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TRENTON – Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice announced today that a former officer of a Roman Catholic church in Monmouth County, New Jersey, has admitted stealing from the church.
Joseph A. Manzi, 78, of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Jill O’Malley in Monmouth County to an accusation charging him with one count of second-degree theft by unlawful taking and one count of third-degree filing a fraudulent tax return.
“The defendant admitted in court that he used his position of trust to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the church,” said Attorney General Davenport. “He did so to fund a lavish lifestyle, and he is now facing the consequences of his greed.”
“The defendant admitted that he enriched himself with church funds, and will be sentenced accordingly,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton.
Manzi was charged by complaint in October 2025. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Manzi was the former director of finance, operations, and development for the Church of Saint Leo the Great (St. Leo) in Lincroft, New Jersey. On approximately June 26, 2025, Manzi’s employment at St. Leo ended. Church staff later reviewed the church’s credit card statements and identified numerous unauthorized charges that were determined to be for Manzi’s personal benefit.
The investigation determined Manzi fraudulently used St. Leo’s credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and payments for event vendors, vehicle repairs, financing, and purchases, including a Cadillac SUV; luxury clothing; personal home repairs and services; personal medical and dental payments; sports event tickets, including New York Yankees games; payments to fraternal organizations; chartered fishing trips; and personal insurance. A preliminary investigation determined he had embezzled $673,874, and further investigation identified additional stolen funds and substantiated crimes of tax fraud and evasion.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the state is recommending a sentence of five years in New Jersey state prison. The plea agreement calls for Manzi to pay restitution of $1.2 million to St. Leo and $73,032 in unpaid taxes to the New Jersey State Treasury.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Conner Ouellette under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Aaron Witherspoon and Bureau Chief Cynthia Vazquez. The case was investigated by DCJ Detective Troy Wilhelm and Special Investigator Paul Donahue.
Attorney General Davenport thanked the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Middletown Township Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
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