The Connecticut minister accused of cheating two elderly parishioners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been defrocked.
The Rev. Judy Albeen, the executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, tells The Connecticut Post it has removed the ordination of Robert Genevicz and no longer recognizes him as a minister.
Genevicz, 67, is charged with first-degree larceny in the theft of more than $173,000 from a 71-year old member of the church.
Police began investigating Genevicz in May 2013 after money disappeared from the parishioner's account. Genevicz had been granted power of attorney and was named conservator for the woman.
He also is being sued by a Trumbull woman who alleges the minister defrauded her 88-year-old mother out of about $200,000.
Genevicz led the Stratford Baptist church for 16 years. That church said Tuesday it stands behind a previous statement that it fully supports Genevicz and wants him to remain pastor of the church.
