UTICA, N.Y. – A longtime priest in the Village of New York Mills yesterday pleaded guilty to stealing $87,000 from the church’s account at First Source FCU.
Father Valentine Krul pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree grand larceny. He was the chaplain for the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department for more than 20 years. A priest for 34 years, he had been assigned to St. Mary’s Church in New York Mills for the past 17 years.
Father Valentine, as he is known, said he took money from three church credit union accounts made up of money from the parish, some of which included people’s bequests, wills, and donations to the church. He said that at one point he made a withdrawal of $46,720 for a condominium in Florida for himself.
He was ordered to pay $87,391 in restitution. He said he is selling the condo and liquidating his retirement account for restitution.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7.
