Friar stole $560,000, splurged on plastic surgery and trips to the Hamptons, feds say

A Franciscan friar vowed to commit himself to poverty, like other friars in his order.

But Pawel Bielecki broke his vow by stealing more than $560,000 he caused people to donate toward a non-existent medical charity in Beirut, Lebanon, according to federal prosecutors.

Bielecki, a Catholic friar with the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order in White Plains, New York, told an array of lies to obtain the donations during his appearances and in advertisements on radio shows, podcasts and his campaigns on crowdfunding websites, prosecutors said.

He faked being a doctor and lied about living in Lebanon, where he pretended to run medical clinics to help Christians living in the Middle East, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

He also pretend to be a surgeon and lied about having several Ph.D degrees, prosecutors said.

Bielecki spent thousands in donations on a plastic surgery procedure at a liposuction clinic, trips to the Hamptons, high-end meals, a monthly $334.40 luxury gym membership fee and more between December 2017 and February 2024, court documents show.

The people he scammed spanned several states, according to prosecutors, who said victims in Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey and New York sent checks endorsed to “Fr. Paul Bielecki’s Mission,” according to prosecutors.

Bielecki, 48, of New York City, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with his scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a Nov. 14 news release.

“Pawel Bielecki’s deceptive actions not only robbed individuals of their hard-earned money but also undermined the spirit of generosity that drives charitable giving,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.

A federal defender representing Bielecki didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Nov. 15.

Bielecki was in the U.S. when he pretended to be in Lebanon and working to support his purported medical clinics, according to prosecutors.

He pretended that he was raising money for medicine, medical equipment, baby incubators, food and an ambulance for his clinics, prosecutors said.

Following an August 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, Bielecki said in his recordings for media shows that he had been “badly injured” in the explosion, court documents say.He also said his medical clinics were “badly damaged,” according to a criminal complaint.

When the explosion happened, he was actually in New York City and had spent money at coffee shops, restaurants and other businesses, prosecutors said.

In March 2022, after he spent about $15,000 at the liposuction clinic for a plastic surgery procedure, Bielecki emailed one victim, saying he was in Lebanon and doing “our best to keep surgeries running,” the complaint shows.

If you suspect you might’ve been scammed by Bielecki, the U.S. Attorney’s Office suggests contacting Special Agent Sean Smyth at 914- 993‑1900 or reporting a potential crime online.

McClatchy News contacted the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order for comment Nov. 15 and didn’t receive an immediate response. Prosecutors said the province had conducted its own investigation into the scheme, reported it to authorities and had cooperated with law enforcement.

Bielecki’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19, court records show.

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