Former Milwaukee Priest Removed from Chicago Area Church

WISN
June 23, 2014

http://www.wisn.com/news/former-milwaukee-priest-removed-from-chicago-area-church/26627572#!3ujlW

A former Milwaukee priest was suddenly removed from his position at a suburban Chicago church over the weekend.

Father James Dokos was a trusted leader and pastor for years at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church until 2012, when he transferred to Glenview, Ill. Then questions began surfacing about some lavish spending of church money.

The famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Milwaukee's northwest side has been gaining new attention because of allegations of fraud against a former pastor.

WISN 12 News began investigating last fall, after Milwaukee County prosecutors served multiple search warrants stating they were seeking information on Dokos' use of more than $100,000 in a trust fund.

In October, the church's lawyer told WISN 12 News, "Our mission was to get the explanation out, and we got the explanation out, and it's in the district attorney's hands, and we have all faith in the District Attorney's Office," Annunciation Greek Church attorney Emmanuel Mamalakis said.

According to those warrants, the money in a trust fund was intended to be used by the church, mainly for construction of the church's new cultural center.

Instead, Dokos is suspected of using tens of thousands of dollars to pay his personal bills, including meals at Fleming's Steakhouse in Brookfield and Trieber and Straub Jewelers -- a luxury jewelry store also in Brookfield.

Dokos transferred to Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, Ill., in 2012.

WISN 12 News has obtained a letter sent to members there this weekend by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago that they've been informed that the Milwaukee district attorney, "intends to file a criminal complaint" against Dokos, and in light of that he's been placed on administrative leave and "suspended from his pastoral and administrative duties as parish priest."

WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr spoke with the prosecutor in the case Monday afternoon. He said a complaint has been drawn-up against Dokos and was shared with the church and Dokos' lawyer but it has not yet been officially filed.

The church in Milwaukee didn't respond to a request for comment.