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Man arrested for grand theft — while impersonating a priest
File: Inside of St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica.
(
Charles Castaldi/KPCC
)
Erwin Mena, 59, was arrested on Tuesday for posing as a Catholic priest — and keeping church donations for himself, according to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police were alerted to Mena's alleged fraud by the L.A. Archdiocese on June 4, according to the release. Mena officiated church ceremonies including baptisms, confessions, funerals and at least one marriage, the L.A. Times reported.
According to a report by Fox 11, Mena has been conducting mass at Catholic churches since the mid-1990s. Fox 11's report also said that Mena would use elaborate schemes to get money out of churchgoers — he made $15,000 selling tickets for people to travel to the East Coast during Pope Francis's visit.
Mena was arrested in Elysian Park, and with 22 felonies and eight misdemeanors, according to the L.A. Times. Multiple counts of grand theft are included in those charges, the press release states.
If you have any information about "Padre" Erwin Mena, the police ask that you contact LAPD Detective Guevara at (213) 486-6630, or visit LAPDOnline.org.
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