Embezzling Priest Gets 5 Years in Prison
From Times Wire Reports
A priest who pleaded guilty to taking $75,000 from his parish to pay for vacations and fancy cars was sentenced in Freehold to five years in state prison.
The sentence followed the recommendation of prosecutors for the Rev. Joseph W. Hughes, 62, who last month admitted embezzling from the Church of the Holy Cross for seven years. Authorities originally had charged him with taking $2 million.
“I betrayed the trust of the people, and I am truly and heartfeltly sorry,” Hughes told the Superior Court judge.
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