Priest Busted Stealing Parish Money For Drugs and Gay Sex Parties

Father Francesco Spagnesi, 40, of Prato, Italy was placed under house arrest on suspicion of stealing more than $117,000 from his parish funds and directly from parishioners to buy drugs for his gay sex parties.

According to The Times, authorities caught wind of the illegal activity after discovering that Spagnesi's roommate had imported a liter of GHB, also known as the "date rape drug", from the Netherlands.

Spagnesi and his roommate allegedly used dating sites to invite guests to their parties where drugs were sold and taken. In the raid on Spagnesis's residence, police found bottles that had allegedly been adapted for smoking crack cocaine.

Costanza Malerba, who is representing Spagnesi, says his client has already confessed to having supplied drugs at his house parties and would be confessing to misappropriating church funds soon.

Police are in the process of interviewing 200 people who are said to have attended Spagnesi's parties over the last few years.

A parish accountant also recently discovered that Spagnesi had withdrawn more than $100,000 from the parish's bank account. This activity prompted the local bishop to step in and end the priest's access to the funds, which police believe Spagnesi was using to purchase drugs.

When Spagnesi was no longer able to withdraw money from the church's account, he allegedly began taking money from the collection plate and soliciting money directly from parishioners, who were told he was raising money for low-income families.

According to investigators, some parishioners gave Spagnesi more than $1,700 in donations because he was so highly regarded and trusted by the community.

La Nazione, the local newspaper, reports that parishioners have begun legal action to reclaim their money. They had "had great faith in their young, brilliant, all-involving and refined priest," according to the publication.

No official charges have been filed against Spagnesi as of this writing.