Detroit — Breaking the trust parishioners placed in him, and by extension the Archdiocese of Detroit, Fr. Edward Belczak pleaded guilty to mail fraud in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan on Sept. 1.

The charges stem from an embezzling scheme that lasted from March 2005 through 2012, when then-pastor Fr. Belczak took donations intended for St. Thomas More Parish in Troy and deposited those funds into his personal bank account.

“I received a letter from a parishioner who established a trust fund in our parish,” Fr. Belczak said in court. “The letter contained a check for $350,000 and a note saying it was for me and my mission. So I always thought the money was mine.”

On March 28, 2005, Fr. Belczak purchased a $573,000 condominium in Florida after obtaining an unauthorized $400,000 loan from the St. Thomas More Parish Bank account.

Fr. Belczak withdrew money from the parish, with intent of repaying the loan through “personal gifts” he received from parishioners. The former pastor at no time reported the gifts as parish income to the Archdiocese of Detroit, which requires routine audits of parish finances.

“I’m really good with stocks and finances, so I loaned the money to myself and put it in my Merrill Lynch account,” Fr. Belczak said. “I was really lucky and thought I was good with making money. It was 2006 to 2008, so I had no idea what was about to happen, (the economic downturn in 2008-09).”

Judge Arthur J. Tarnow presided over the case. Fr. Belczak will be sentenced Dec. 1, and faces sentencing guidelines for mail fraud of 33 to 41 months with a maximum of 20 years.

When Judge Tarnow asked Fr. Belczak why he was entering the guilty plea, Fr. Belczak responded, “Why am I pleading guilty? Because I am.”

Jerome Sabbota, Fr. Belczak’s attorney, told reporters his client simply wanted the matter behind him.“Fr. Belczak admits responsibility and just wants this to be over with as soon as possible,” said Jerome Sabbota, Fr. Belczak’s attorney. “He doesn’t want to cause any further harm or embarrassment to the parish or the archdiocese.”