The former finance director of a New Jersey parish has pleaded guilty to stealing more than half a million dollars from the church to "fund a lavish lifestyle."
State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport's office said in a May 15 press release that Joseph Manzi pleaded guilty to "one count of second-degree theft by unlawful taking and one count of third-degree filing a fraudulent tax return."
The state had charged Manzi in the theft in October 2025 after staffers at St. Leo the Great Parish in Lincroft had discovered "numerous unauthorized charges that were determined to allegedly be for Manzi's personal benefit." Manzi had left his position as the parish finance director earlier in the year.
In its May 15 release the state said its investigation determined that the 78-year-old Manzi "fraudulently used St. Leo's credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and payments." Such purchases included "personal medical and dental payments," "sports event tickets," "chartered fishing trips" and a Cadillac SUV.
In October 2025 the state had alleged Manzi stole around $500,000, though on May 15 it said its investigation had revealed nearly $675,000 in thefts, while "further investigation identified additional stolen funds."
The state said it was recommending a five-year sentence in New Jersey state prison.
Manzi in August 2025 had also been the subject of a separate civil lawsuit by the St. Leo the Great Parish which accused him of stealing more than $1.5 million from the church.
New Jersey said this week that part of Manzi's plea agreement includes $1.2 million in restitution to the church.
