Embezzle-case priest just a pushover for crooks: DA
Multi-Million Dollar Church Scandal Results in No Charges

By MURRAY WEISS and JESSIE GRAHAM NY Post

Monsignor Thomas Gradilone was a “soft touch” taken advantage of by hardened ex-cons — but he wasn’t guilty of embezzling $2 million from his parish, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said yesterday.

The 74-year-old Gradilone — the target of a massive embezzlement probe — exhibited a “disturbing pattern of questionable transactions and expenditures,” giving away millions that had been donated to his posh Forest Hills parish, Brown said.

He even doled out $25,000 to a drug abusing Queens couple who convinced him he was providing their baby with diapers, baby formula and day care when, in fact, they turned their newborn son over to foster care.

In addition to footing their bills, the priest gave another $25,000 to a cousin of the father, who was also and ex-con with a lengthy criminal record. Brown, whose office conducted a yearlong probe, said the biggest recipient was Frank the defendant, an ex-con who did odd jobs at the parish and received $400,000 over five years.

Gradilone became so close with the defendant he co-signed his rental lease on a Long Island home. “Our investigation found a disturbing pattern of abused discretion, poor judgement and bad decision-making by [Gradilone] in handling parish funds,” Brown said.

But there was nothing criminal, because he had wide latitude for “charitable endeavors,” Brown added. Brown said Gradilone kept a hidden $1.4 million fund at his church, Our Lady of Martyrs, with “many of the money transfers going to three individuals he befriended and apparently saw as individuals in need of financial assistance.”

“He was an extremely soft touch,” an investigative source said. “Home-less people and ex-cons who traveled on the subway near his church heard about him, told others about him and would stop by the church for money.

“He admitted giving out the money, but did not realize how much it was over an 11-year period.” The Post reported 14 months ago that no charges would be brought against Gradilone.

Gradilone’ lawyer, Robert Sullivan, said his client never hid the discretionary account,” which he claimed was opened before Gradilone took over the parish 18 years ago.

the defendant’s lawyer, William Petrillo, said his client and Gradilone were like “father and son.”

The revelations about the missing funds last year rocked the parish. It forced the Brooklyn Diocese to send him to a Canadian treatment center for counseling.