How Rafaello Follieri Scammed A Priest

NEW YORK — A Roman Catholic priest in Atlantic City, N.J., has told officials that he was a victim of a scam by an Italian businessman who also was actress Anne Hathaway's boyfriend.

Monsignor William Hodge came forward as a victim of Raffaello Follieri in a letter to federal probation officials.

He says Follieri duped him out of $110,000 by claiming he needed the money to pay nuns. Hodge says his parents left him the money.

Follieri is to be sentenced Oct. 3 to up to 65 years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty this month to wire fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutors say Follieri told investors he wanted to buy unneeded property from Roman Catholic churches but used their money to travel with his then-girlfriend.

Hathaway is the star of "The Devil Wears Prada."

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Information from: Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com

Comments

[TakLoufer]

Since when is scamming a priest -- those charmers who have looked the other way for centuries while children have been sexually, psychologically, and physically abused -- such a bad thing? The only rotten thing this Follieri clown has done is besmirch the reputation of the otherwise lovely Anne Hathaway.

[harriettubman]

Obviously you haven't been following this story then. He bilked a lot of investors whom he convinced could puchase land, from the Catholic Church, below market rate. He lived a lavish lifestyle with a jet, NY penthouse, a fake charity, the whole deal. This goes beyond just Ann Hathaway's reputation. We're talking multimillions in deceit.

[Brillig]

And he even fooled JOHN MCCAIN who was so eager to be on his yacht in the Mediterranean

[harriettubman]

He fooled a lot of people. From articles, they say his father is a crook too. The apple surely didn't fall far from that tree. Ann should shield herself with the next boyfriend.

[peaches49]

Has anyone seen the picture of John McCain visiting with Rafaello on his yacht with Hathaway present? I saw it on one of the news shows. Nice , huh? Who is the celebrity ?

[RockySoldier]

the priest was giving away money he inherited to a cause he thought was helping nuns. and follieri is able to sleep at night HOW?

the priest should get his money back and get to give it to real nuns in need.

follieri should do some hard labor in a warm place below.

[crayola 08]

*sigh* i can't even remember the last time i did hard labor in a warm place below.

[crayola 08]

pay nuns? i didn't even know nuns had a need for money. what do they do with it?

[rzan1]

There are nursing homes for aging nuns. They require care in the same way that other human beings do. These places allow them to continue in a spiritual community with their own kind, I guess.

[speeddeeps]

morally wrong to con a man owho is doing g0d work, shameful

[medusa1000]

OMG and I thought I was dating a loser.