Investigation Launched on Pennsylvania Clergyman Regarding Alleged Manipulation of Raffle Due to Suspected Gambling Indulgence
In the small town of Erie, Pennsylvania, a shocking revelation has come to light. Father Ross Miceli, a local Catholic priest, is under investigation for allegedly rigging a church raffle, which was meant to raise funds for St. Jude the Apostle Parish.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office launched an investigation in December 2024, following suspicions about the raffle's grand prize winner and the pastor's financial activities. The probe continued through March 2025, delving into Father Miceli's gambling behavior and the misuse of church funds, including extravagant purchases and large credit card expenses linked to the church.
The investigation revealed that Father Miceli admitted to publicly falsifying the raffle's grand prize winner, rigging the fundraiser. The parish, in response, planned to sell the raffle car back to the dealer and attempt refunds to raffle ticket buyers.
The Diocese of Erie placed Father Miceli on administrative leave in August 2025 and recommended hiring an independent forensic auditor to review parish finances. The church has also transferred the pastor out of the parish while the investigation is ongoing.
The investigation extended to uncover potential gambling activities by Miceli, and law enforcement seized his iPad, iPhone, and financial records related to the parish and raffle. As of the current investigation, no charges have been filed against the pastor.
The raffle, which took place in December 2024, aimed to raise approximately $420,000 for the Church. Each ticket was worth $50, and a total of 1,000 tickets were available. The potential prize for the winners included a Chevy Corvette Stingray 1LT or $50,000 in cash.
However, the winner announced on Christmas Day, Martin Anderson, does not exist. The goal was not met, and no actual winner was selected for the church raffle. The pastor moved $300,000 from the raffle account to another church-controlled account.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office initiated an investigation into St Jude's church raffle in March 2025. The investigation aims to determine if the pastor's actions were a contributing factor in the raffle being rigged.
The Diocese stated it was fully cooperating with authorities throughout the investigation. This investigation by the Erie County DA followed public and diocesan revelations throughout mid-2025, confirming the timeline of the inquiry as starting at least late 2024 and progressing through early to mid-2025.
- The investigation by the Erie County District Attorney's Office has uncovered potential gambling trends related to Father Ross Miceli, the Catholic priest under investigation for allegedly rigging a church raffle.
- The recent general news about Father Miceli's actions in Erie, Pennsylvania, has raised concerns about crime and justice involving casino-and-gambling activities and the misuse of church funds.
