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“$650K Charity Fraud: Priest’s Lavish Lies Expose.
- Background: Reverend Father Pawel Bielecki, also known as “Father Paul,” was a Catholic priest who presented himself as a dedicated servant of God, supposedly running medical clinics in war-torn Lebanon. Bielecki managed to raise at least $650,000 by convincing donors across the United States that their contributions were going directly to help those in dire need in Lebanon. However, the reality was far different from the compassionate narrative he sold to his benefactors.
The Scheme: Over the course of eight years, Bielecki manipulated the trust of his followers, primarily using local radio shows and crowdfunding websites to solicit donations. He claimed the funds were destined for Lebanese hospitals, ambulances, and clinics he purportedly operated. In truth, these facilities did not exist, and the money was used to fund his extravagant lifestyle in Manhattan, New York, thousands of miles away from Lebanon.
Lavish Spending: Rather than aiding those suffering in Lebanon, Bielecki indulged in a lifestyle that starkly contradicted the vow of poverty he took as a Capuchin Franciscan. His lavish expenditures included frequenting high-end restaurants, spending weekends in the luxurious Hamptons, and even undergoing liposuction surgery costing $15,000. His bank records reveal that between December 2017 and February 2024, he withdrew nearly $50,000 in cash and transferred over $600,000 to pay off personal credit card expenses. These expenses also included a $334 monthly membership to a luxury gym.
Deceptive Tactics: Bielecki went to great lengths to maintain his deceitful image. On multiple occasions, he used aliases such as “Dr. Phaakon Sonderburg-Glucksburg” and “Paul HRH Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,” the latter of which even included “HRH” standing for “His Royal Highness.” He also made false claims about his involvement in dangerous missions along the Syrian border and pretended to be a surgeon or a United Nations researcher.
One of the most egregious aspects of his fraud was exploiting the tragic Beirut explosion on August 4, 2020, which killed 218 people. Bielecki claimed to have been injured in the disaster and used this lie to solicit more donations, despite records proving he was in Manhattan on the day of the explosion, spending money at local establishments.
Victims and Legal Actions: Among Bielecki’s victims were compassionate individuals and organizations, including a Pennsylvania woman and her husband who transferred $84,000 to his account between June 2020 and October 2023. They were led to believe their donations were helping to purchase an ambulance and provide medical aid in Lebanon. Bielecki even sent them fabricated updates, expressing gratitude and claiming he was using their donations to help people in Lebanese villages.
The extent of his deception shocked many, including John Abi-Habib, a member of the Salaam Club of New York and an honorary consul of Lebanon, who had also been deceived by Bielecki’s lies. The revelation of the priest’s arrest for wire and mail fraud left Abi-Habib and others reeling from the betrayal.
Conclusion: Reverend Father Pawel Bielecki’s actions are a sobering reminder of how trust and compassion can be exploited by those in positions of authority. Despite taking a vow of poverty and dedicating his life to service, Bielecki chose to live a life of luxury funded by the very people who trusted him to do good in the world. His arrest and subsequent charges of wire and mail fraud mark the end of a years-long scheme that not only defrauded innocent donors but also tarnished the reputation of the Catholic Church and its mission of helping the needy.
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