AMBRIDGE, Pa. — A religious brother is facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing more than $220,000 in parish funds from a church in Ambridge, Beaver County.
Thomas Ross, otherwise known as Brother Ambrose, is accused of stealing the money from Good Samaritan Parish between 2006 and 2015, according to the Beaver County District Attorney.
Parish officials noticed missing funds in early 2015, prompting an investigation by the Ambridge Police Department, auditors from the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State Police.
A release from the Beaver County District Attorney said that surveillance equipment was installed in parish offices in April 2015, and Ross was recorded taking sealed bank envelopes from a secured cabinet on four occasions.
When Ross was confronted about the video and missing funds in May 2015, he admitted to the theft, the release said.
“He was astonished himself … about the amount. He didn't even have the amount, how much it was. He was astonished when he found out how much it was,” Ambridge police Chief Jim Mann said.
A Pittsburgh diocese forensic audit revealed more than $24,000 missing from loose weekly collections from 2012 to 2015, more than $141,000 missing from parishioner envelope contributions from 2012 to 2015 and more than $54,000 missing from votive candle contributions from 2006 to 2015.
Police said Ross had a gambling problem.
Investigators determined that Ross had a Players Card account with the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, and he had gambling transactions of nearly $3 million between 2010 and 2015.
“During this whole time, he knew he was going to get under investigation and going to be arrested, and he still continued to go and gamble up at the Rivers Casino,” Mann said.
Ross is charged with three third-degree felonies of theft by unlawful taking, two third-degree felonies of receiving stolen property and one third-degree misdemeanor of receiving stolen property.
A statement released Friday by the Diocese of Pittsburgh said, in part:
"This morning the Pennsylvania State Police informed the Diocese of Pittsburgh that Brother Ambrose Ross (aka Thomas P. Ross) was arraigned on charges of theft and receiving stolen property in connection with more than $220,000 missing from Good Samaritan Parish in Ambridge, where he had formerly worked.
"I am deeply grieved that anyone would take gifts that others have so sacrificially given to the Church," said Bishop David A. Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. "I offer my prayers and consolation to the parishioners whose trust has been broken and I promise to continue full cooperation with the civil authorities. I ask your prayers for everyone who has been harmed by this, including Brother Ambrose."