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Michigan priest convicted of embezzling $780K from retired priests

Priest could get prison time after guilty verdicts

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A Michigan priest was convicted on eight felony counts related to embezzling charges.

A jury in Clinton County returned guilty verdicts on the charges against David Rosenberg, 72, of DeWitt, for embezzling or stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from retired priests. He was originally charged in Dec. 2022.

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The Michigan AG’s office says Rosenberg was employed as Director of the Lansing Catholic Diocese’s St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt between 2015 and 2021. He embezzled or stole approximately $780,000 from three priests and gave the stolen funds to his charitable foundation, FaithFirst, formerly the Rosenberg Family Corporation. The 95-acre Retreat Center property includes apartments that house retired priests. The three victims resided at the Retreat Center apartments until their deaths.

“Mr. Rosenberg stole massive sums of money from these elderly and vulnerable men living in the Retreat Center apartments while he was the director, and I’m appreciative to the jury for holding him accountable,” said Nessel. “My department will continue to seek justice for our seniors when they are taken advantage of by people in positions of authority.”

Rosenberg will be sentenced on March 18. He faces prison time on multiple charges.

Upon being charged in 2022, Rosenberg was ordered to refrain from public ministry by Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing. That order remains in place, according to the Diocese of Lansing.

“Upon the conclusion of these criminal proceedings, our prayers are naturally with those most affected by Father Rosenberg’s actions, especially the close friends and family of his three victims, each of whom has since died, may they rest in peace,” said David Kerr, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Lansing, February 12.


About the Author
Ken Haddad headshot

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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