Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced that George Athanasiou, a priest from Washington County, has pleaded guilty to felony theft. The charges relate to the misappropriation of church donation checks, which he signed and deposited through ATM transactions for personal use.
Athanasiou, 37, served at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg when he committed the offenses. He was not authorized to sign or deposit these checks. Upon entering his plea in Washington County Court, Athanasiou paid $155,000 in restitution. His sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2025.
"Stealing money is theft, plain and simple," said Attorney General Henry. "Whether it is committed by a petty criminal or a trusted faith leader, which was the case here — this priest betrayed parishioners by stealing donations that otherwise would have benefited the church." She added that the plea to a felony charge holds Athanasiou accountable while providing significant restitution to the church community.
The investigation by the Office of Attorney General revealed over 200 unauthorized ATM transactions involving church donation checks between 2022 and 2023. Video evidence showed Athanasiou endorsing and depositing these checks using an ATM. During a police interview, he admitted to stealing and endorsing the checks despite knowing he was not permitted to do so.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry is prosecuting the case.