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William A. Dombrow

(Submitted photo)

In nine years Monsignor William A. Dombrow was able to steal $500,000 from a church-owned retirement home, according to an Associated Press Report.

Dombrow used the money to pay for casino visits, expensive dinners and Philadelphia Pops concerts. He pleaded guilty to four federal wire fraud counts on Thursday.

The maligned priest previously ran Villa St. Joseph in Darby for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, which housed aging priests and treated those accused of sexual abuse. Much of the stolen money came from insurance payments for priests who died and from the estates of parishioners.

Dombrow's attorney said the 77-year-old priest admitted to the misdeeds when confronted by church officials. He faces about three years in federal prison and will be sentenced in August.