PRIEST INDICTED FOR THEFT, MONEY LAUNDERING

Twenty One-Count Indictment Alleges Theft of More Than $300,000

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett today announced that 45 year-old John Regan (d.o.b. 09/27/1963) the former Pastor at St. Walter’s Parish in Roselle, was indicted today on charges that he allegedly stole more than $300,000 from the church.

            According to the indictment, Regan is accused of stealing the funds from between August 2006 and July 2008.  It is alleged that Regan, who began serving as Pastor at St. Walter’s in June, 2006, accepted cash and checks written by St. Walter’s parishioners to St. Walter’s Church as offerings.  Instead of depositing the money into legitimate accounts held by St. Walter’s Church however, it is alleged that Regan deposited the money into an account he opened without the knowledge of officials at St. Walter’s Church.  It is further alleged that Regan was the only authorized person on the account and that he used money from this account for personal use including the payment of personal credit cards as well as ATM cash withdrawals at riverboat casinos.  Bank officials however, noticed irregularities in the bank account and raised these concerns with officials at the Joliet Diocese.  Results of an internal audit of parish records by the Diocese were given to the State’s Attorney’s Office resulting in today’s indictment.

            “The allegations against Father Regan are very disheartening,” commented Birkett.  “Here is a man charged with the spiritual well-being of his church.  He was trusted not only by the church but by the thousands of parishioners he was chosen to lead.  It is alleged he repaid that trust by stealing from them.  I would like to thank officials at the Joliet Diocese for their assistance as well Investigator Ray Bradford and Assistant State’s Attorney Helen Kapas-Erdman for their work on this case.”

            In all, Regan faces nine counts of Theft Over $100,000 From a Place of Worship, one count of Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise, seven counts of Theft and four counts of Money Laundering.