Thief Poses as Visiting Pastor to Rob Churches Across the Country
Nationwide Scam Exposed
A thief who posed as a visiting pastor to rob a Queens church has been linked to robberies at houses of worship across the country that have cost tens of thousands of dollars, police and law enforcement sources said Friday. Marin Rostas, a fake priest, was arrested for trying to impersonate "Father Martin" from a church in Moreno Valley, California, where he was arrested for theft. Now back in New York City, Rostas faces charges stemming from a March theft from Bayside Parish.
Modus Operandi of the Conman
Father Peter Rayder, 63, described how Rostas entered the RC Church of the American Martyrs under the guise of being a visiting priest who wanted to celebrate Mass with the clergy. Despite his innocent appearance, Rostas managed to swindle $900 from the senior priest by claiming he had left something at the rectory and sneaking into Reade’s bedroom. The thief used intricate knowledge of clergy names and vocabulary to deceive the church members.
Criminal Activities and Arrest
Rostas attempted burglaries in various churches across the country, including St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Brooklyn and the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville, Suffolk County. He was arrested in Southern California for attempting to burglarize a church and was also charged for a 2022 burglary in Pennsylvania. The fake priest stole money from churches in Houston, Texas, and Oregon, and may have committed similar thefts in Canada.
With a series of crimes committed against churches, Rostas is now awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on charges of second-degree burglary and theft. The Diocese of Brooklyn expressed hope that Rostas’ arrest would put an end to his criminal activities. The NYPD issued a national alert on the suspect, leading to his arrest in California. The impostor pastor will now face justice for his actions, and hopefully, his looting of churches will come to an end.
Additional reporting by Kyle Schnitzer and Khristina Nariznaya
