Former local priest sentenced for parish thefts

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -A former Rapid City Catholic priest is sentenced Monday morning in federal court in connection with thefts from three local parishes.

Marcin Garbacz was sentenced to seven years and nine months in federal prison.

Garbacz was convicted of 65 felonies back in March, 50 counts of wire fraud, nine counts of money laundering, one count of transportation of stolen money and five counts of filing a false tax return.

Garbacz was ordered to pay a total of $258,696 in restitution to three Rapid City parishes, Saint Therese of the Little Flower, Blessed Sacrament and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In addition to $46,008 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. He was accused of stealing from the parish collections over a period of years.

Garbacz is set to make his first appearance in federal court on new charges Tuesday morning after being indicted on charges of possession of child porn and traveling to a foreign country and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Copyright 2020 KOTA. All rights reserved.