Louisa Co Priest Denied Appeal for Embezzlement, Judy Stinolis Producer, WTVR, May 25, 2010

Louisa Co. Priest Denied Appeal for Embezzlement

By Judy Stinolis Producer
WTVR
May 25, 2010

http://www.wtvr.com/news/wtvr-louisa-embezzlement-priest052510,0,186539.story

A former Louisa County priest has been denied an appeal on his embezzlement conviction.

Father Rodney Rodis was found guilty of embezzling from two parishes in Louisa County back in 2008. On Tuesday, the Virginia Court of Appeals denied his appeal.

Prosecutors say he stole more an a million dollars from both the collection plate at mass and donations sent to the church's post office box. The money was supposed to be used for church maintenance and construction, tsunami relief, children's mission, and mission work in Haiti among numerous other charitable causes. Instead, Rodis took the money and wired it to the Philippines where he invested in numerous properties for himself to include an oceanfront mansion.

While the jury recommended a sentence of 200 years, the judge decided to reduce the sentence.

Rodis entered a plea of guilty to federal charges in February 2008 and was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison and make restitution. To date, the two Louisa parishes have not received one dime, and if not for the Louisa Conviction, Rodis would have been able to return the Philippines in approximately three years.