A 48-year-old Catholic priest from Poland, known better as "Father Paul" Bielecki, deceived donors by pretending to run medical clinics in war-torn Lebanon while actually operating from Manhattan.
In reality, he was defrauding donors, and the funds he raised for his fake charitable activities were used, among other things, to enhance his own appearance through aesthetic procedures, including liposuction and other medical and cosmetic treatments.
Over eight years, he raised more than $650,000 for non-existent hospitals, using the money for personal luxuries such as high-end meals and plastic surgery, reports „The New York Post.”
Bielecki, who took a vow of poverty over 30 years ago as a Capuchin Franciscan, posed not only as a Catholic priest but frequently changed his identity. Many of his victims believed he was a doctor aiding the Middle East or even a United Nations employee.
He was cunning enough to exploit the 2020 Beirut explosion to advance his scam, despite not being in Lebanon and not having left the U.S. for over two years. Now, he faces up to 40 years in prison.
Source: „The New York Post”/Polskie Radio 24/X/@innercitypress/@nypost
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