A Catholic priest in Erie, Pennsylvania, is under criminal investigation after allegedly falsifying church raffle results meant to raise funds for his parish and may have redirected the proceeds for personal luxury spending.

According to Casino, the Rev. Ross R. Miceli, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church, is accused of inventing raffle winners in a December fundraiser and is now being scrutinized for possibly misusing more than $300,000 in parish funds.

Miceli, 42, has served as the pastor of St. Jude since July 2022. In December 2024, the church launched a grand raffle campaign offering a 2023 Chevy Corvette Stingray 1LT or a $50,000 cash prize. The campaign aimed to sell up to 1,000 tickets, each priced at $50, to raise $500,000 for the parish.

The raffle was structured to align its winning number with the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Christmas Eve Pick 4 draw. On December 25, St. Jude’s Facebook page announced a winner named Martin Anderson from Detroit as the recipient of the top prize, reportedly opting for the $50,000 cash alternative.

However, inconsistencies in the announcement raised suspicions within the parish. According to authorities, further investigation revealed that Anderson and other declared winners were fictitious, allegedly created by Miceli to conceal the actual disposition of the raffle proceeds.

Whistleblower Sparked Internal Catholic Review

A whistleblower from within St. Jude’s congregation reported their concerns to Bishop Lawrence T. Persico, prompting a deeper look into the church’s handling of the raffle. As a result of these concerns, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office launched an official inquiry into the matter.

Investigators served search warrants on the church offices in mid-March 2025 as part of the expanding investigation. According to reports from local news source GoErie, interviews conducted by detectives revealed that Miceli confessed to fabricating the raffle outcome and acknowledged moving the proceeds into another parish-controlled account.

One of the statements contained in court documents quoted Miceli as admitting to “publicly falsifying the results of the grand prize winner,” which authorities believe was part of a larger scheme to disguise the misappropriation of funds.

Luxury Items and Credit Spending Examined

Following the confession, authorities broadened the scope of the investigation to include Miceli’s finances. Detectives are now examining his expenditures on high-end personal goods, including a new Tesla, electronics, footwear, designer clothing, and Disney memorabilia.

Officials are also scrutinizing over $300,000 in American Express credit card payments made by the church between January 2024 and March 2025. These charges reportedly include spending patterns that raise questions about their connection to legitimate church operations.

Miceli was solely responsible for handling financial matters for St. Jude during this period, which has prompted concerns about oversight and the lack of checks and balances in managing parish funds.

Miceli Remains in Position Amid Transfer

Despite the ongoing investigation, Miceli has not been formally charged with criminal conduct as of early August 2025. He remains in his pastoral role at St. Jude, though he is anticipated to be reassigned to serve in other area churches effective August 12.

The Catholic Diocese of Erie confirmed its awareness of the legal probe. “The Diocese of Erie is aware of an active investigation involving St. Jude the Apostle Parish and its pastor, Fr. Ross Miceli,” the Diocese stated in an official comment.

It added that church leadership is committed to transparency and is offering complete cooperation to law enforcement. “We are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities. At this time, we cannot provide further information as the investigation is ongoing,” the Diocese’s statement continued.

Community Reaction and Church's Next Steps

The situation has sparked widespread concern in the Erie parish community, where some members feel betrayed over the apparent misuse of their financial support. Others are awaiting a full review before concluding.

No public disciplinary action has been announced by the Diocese regarding Miceli’s role or potential reassignment. Observers note that any internal Church decisions will likely depend on findings from the ongoing legal investigation.

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office has not indicated when formal charges, if any, might be brought. For now, the case remains open, with authorities continuing their review of both raffle documentation and Miceli’s financial activity over the past year.