US priest jailed after stealing $1m for male escorts and lavish lifestyle

A US Roman Catholic priest has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading no contest to stealing more than $1 million (€670,000) in church money and spending it on male escorts and a lavish lifestyle.

The Rev Kevin Gray, former pastor at Sacred Heart/Sagrado Corazon Parish in Waterbury, Connecticut, was also sentenced to three years of probation.

The Republican-American reports that a plea of no contest was entered on Gray’s behalf, which means he did not admit guilt, but a conviction for first-degree larceny was entered on his record.

Prosecutors say the 65-year-old Gray will not have to pay back the money because the Diocese of Hartford did not ask for restitution.

Gray’s lawyer called many of the charges against his client overblown.

Police said for seven years Gray has been spending church money to fund trips to New York and pay for sessions with male escorts, and he also racked up $200,000 in restaurant bills.

Although police believe Gray told his congregation he was battling cancer, detectives have determined he never did.

Gray used the money to stay at such hotels as the Waldorf-Astoria and on expensive clothing labels, including Armani suits and Brooks Brothers, police said following his arrest.

He also paid the college tuition and rent of two men he had met.

“We are deeply saddened by the events which have recently had such a profound affect on Sacred Heart/ Sagrado Corazon parish,” the Archdiocese of Hartford said in a statement.

“At the spiritual level, we continue to pray for healing and consolation for the parish family as it moves forward and for guidance and reconciliation for Fr Gray.”

The archdiocese had asked police to investigate after it discovered the money was missing.