[imagesource:gencraftai]

Some of us have wasted some good time trying to get to the next level of Candy Crush, but I bet nobody has been arrested over the obsession – unlike one Catholic priest from Pennsylvania.

Reverend Lawrence Kozak was charged with theft and other related crimes for allegedly using a church credit card to spend a silly amount of money on mobile games, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer (via TechSpot).

Between September 2019 and July 2022, the 51-year-old forked out $41,879.83 from his (now former) parish and spent it on all the addictive mobile games under the sun.

Kozak’s games of choice were Candy Crush, Mario Kart Tour, Pokémon Go, and Cash Frenzy, as well as various slot machine and hidden object games.

During a financial review in 2022 for the Pottstown church in Pennsylvania – Saint Thomas More Parish – Rev. Kozak’s outlandish spending came to light when an accountant discovered “an astronomical amount of Apple transactions” on the parish’s credit card statements.

The Apple ID was allegedly registered to Kozak while the church funds had been used to buy whatever he wanted, including a Fire tablet and a child’s backpack for his goddaughter.

Kozak refuted any awareness of using the parish credit card when questioned by the police after the charges surfaced. He asserted that both his personal bank card and the parish credit card were linked to his iPhone.

He said the church card was used for authorised streaming services and Microsoft Office software, but admitted that he may have used it to buy game items because he was not “a details guy.”

Records show that he did make small payments totalling $10,600 from a personal bank account toward the church’s credit card balance.

He added that the purchases were for “powering up” rather than gambling. He also said he was seeking counselling for his addiction to playing and spending money on online games, according to the affidavit.

In November 2022, Kozak was placed on administrative leave by the church. His replacement at the church told police in 2023 that he received a letter from Kozak containing a “Parish reimbursement” cheque of $8,000.

The handwritten letter read: “I am so sorry that I made this mistake which has been any source of stress for you.”

The sorry priest was released from prison after posting $250,000 bail.

It is too easy for Candy Crush to steal your time and money

[source:techspot]