Mich. priest guilty of embezzling from 3 other priests

A Lansing-area priest was convicted last week of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from other priests, the Michigan Attorney General's Office said.

David Rosenberg, 72, of DeWitt, was found guilty Friday by a Clinton County jury after a nine-day trial, the office said Monday.

He was convicted of three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult-$100,000 or more, a 20-year felony; a count of false pretenses-$100,000 or more, a 20-year-felony; a count of false pretenses-$20,000 to $50,000, a 15-year felony; a count of perjury, a 15-year-felony; a count of uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony; and a count of larceny $20,000 or more, a 10-year-felony.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18.

Authorities accused Rosenberg, the former director of the Lansing Catholic Diocese's St. Francis Retreat Center, of embezzling about $830,000 from three retired priests who lived at the facility from 2018-20. Rosenberg was the director of the center from 2015 until 2021, when he retired.

His victims were identified as Benjamin Werner, Joseph Aubin and Ken McDonald. Both Werner and Aubin lived at the Retreat Center until they died.

Rosenberg allegedly used the money to fund his charitable foundation, FaithFirst, formerly known as the Rosenberg Family Corporation, according to officials.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office charged Rosenberg for the crimes in 2022. He was bound over for trial last year.

Rosenberg's attorney was not immediately available Monday for comment on the verdict.

Officials for the Diocese of Lansing issued a statement on Saturday.

"Upon the conclusion of these criminal proceedings, our prayers are naturally with those most affected by Father Rosenberg’s actions, especially the close friends and family of his three victims, each of whom has since died, may they rest in peace,” David Kerr, a spokesman for the diocese, said in the statement.

It also said: "Rosenberg was not accused of stealing money from any diocesan entities nor did his crimes relate to any official role held within the diocese."

Furthermore, officials said Rosenberg was ordered to refrain from public ministry by Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing when he was first charged in 2022. The diocese said the order remains in place.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

X: @CharlesERamirez