A Buffalo man who fleeced $500,000 from a 91-year-old Catholic priest over a decade was sentenced today to two to six years in prison.
“I did take the money and acted like a fool,” said Richard Kesick, who lost most of the money gambling at a casino. “I shouldn’t have done it.”
Kesick in October pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny before Erie County Judge Thomas P. Franczyk.
Kesick had faced seven years in prison.
Franczyk said Kesick “systematically fleeced” the priest.
While his gambling addiction explains Kesick’s motivation, it does not excuse it, Franczyk said as he delivered the prison sentence.
Defense attorney Robert Cutting sought leniency for Kesick, in part because of his client’s “horrific gambling addiction.”
Kesick would lose up to $15,000 over a weekend at the casino, Cutting said.
And the priest turned out to be “an easy source of funds” for Kesick, Cutting said.
For 11 years, Kesick lied to the priest about an inheritance Kesick said he was to receive.
He asked the priest for loans until the inheritance arrived, said Town of Tonawanda Police Lt. William Krier, who investigated the case.
Eventually, Kesick told other lies, even impersonating a judge over the telephone to steal more money from the priest.
Kesick, 57, of Laird Avenue, told the priest he needed money to pay ransom to his kidnappers and cover medical bills for a stab wound. He pretended to be an insurance company representative to give the priest false assurance that the money would be repaid.
Kesick has already signed a confession of judgment for $500,000.
“I hold out no illusions this will ever get paid,” Franczyk said.
The amount that Kesick stole shocked even Kesick, Krier said.
The priest kept receipts that Kesick had signed each time he would take money from the priest, and the priest kept telephone messages that Kesick had left promising to pay back the money, Krier said.
“He believed he was getting the money back,” Krier said.
The priest did not appear in court.
Prosecutor Candace K. Vogel has previously described the cleric as a kind man who “wanted to believe he could help this man.”
Kesick, who has been in jail since his arrest by town police on July 16, twice blew kisses to his wife, who watched the court proceeding.
She declined comment.
Kesick’s criminal past includes convictions for burglary, forgery, arson and criminal possession of stolen property.
“It’s been 25 years since I was (last) arrested, and I’m sorry,” Kesick told the judge.
Arguing for a more-lenient prison sentence, Cutting also cited health issues for Kesick’s wife, his lack of arrests in recent years and letters of support from neighbors showing that Kesick is “not a totally useless human being.”
email: plakamp@buffnews.com
“I did take the money and acted like a fool,” said Richard Kesick, who lost most of the money gambling at a casino. “I shouldn’t have done it.”
Kesick in October pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny before Erie County Judge Thomas P. Franczyk.
Kesick had faced seven years in prison.
Franczyk said Kesick “systematically fleeced” the priest.
While his gambling addiction explains Kesick’s motivation, it does not excuse it, Franczyk said as he delivered the prison sentence.
Defense attorney Robert Cutting sought leniency for Kesick, in part because of his client’s “horrific gambling addiction.”
Kesick would lose up to $15,000 over a weekend at the casino, Cutting said.
And the priest turned out to be “an easy source of funds” for Kesick, Cutting said.
For 11 years, Kesick lied to the priest about an inheritance Kesick said he was to receive.
He asked the priest for loans until the inheritance arrived, said Town of Tonawanda Police Lt. William Krier, who investigated the case.
Eventually, Kesick told other lies, even impersonating a judge over the telephone to steal more money from the priest.
Kesick, 57, of Laird Avenue, told the priest he needed money to pay ransom to his kidnappers and cover medical bills for a stab wound. He pretended to be an insurance company representative to give the priest false assurance that the money would be repaid.
Kesick has already signed a confession of judgment for $500,000.
“I hold out no illusions this will ever get paid,” Franczyk said.
The amount that Kesick stole shocked even Kesick, Krier said.
The priest kept receipts that Kesick had signed each time he would take money from the priest, and the priest kept telephone messages that Kesick had left promising to pay back the money, Krier said.
“He believed he was getting the money back,” Krier said.
The priest did not appear in court.
Prosecutor Candace K. Vogel has previously described the cleric as a kind man who “wanted to believe he could help this man.”
Kesick, who has been in jail since his arrest by town police on July 16, twice blew kisses to his wife, who watched the court proceeding.
She declined comment.
Kesick’s criminal past includes convictions for burglary, forgery, arson and criminal possession of stolen property.
“It’s been 25 years since I was (last) arrested, and I’m sorry,” Kesick told the judge.
Arguing for a more-lenient prison sentence, Cutting also cited health issues for Kesick’s wife, his lack of arrests in recent years and letters of support from neighbors showing that Kesick is “not a totally useless human being.”
email: plakamp@buffnews.com