Kansas priest accused of embezzlement and gambling may get diversion

A southeast Kansas priest may get a diversion in a case where he is accused of embezzling more than $150,000 from the churches he served, and therefore the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.

Federal court records show beginning in 2010, Father Thomas Leland served as priest at St. Francis Parish in St. Paul as well as St. Ambrose Parish in Erie and had access to both parishes bank accounts.

Documents show beginning in or around 2012, Leland is accused of beginning to gamble and fund his gambling with money embezzled from the churches and therefore the Catholic Diocese. The Catholic Diocese reportedly lost $150,919 because of the scheme.

Leland is accused of taking overpayments for conducting Mass, taking unauthorized salary advances and taking unauthorized reimbursements for his own expenses.

In 2014, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita said Leland came forward with what he had done and stopped actively working, a decision that was partly his choice.

A motion for delay of prosecution was filed Wednesday which would delay Leland's prosecution for 18 months. The agreement, signed by Leland, his attorney, the prosecutor and probation officer would be contingent on Leland following certain conditions.

Those conditions include paying back the $150,919, participating in mental health services related to gambling problems and not gambling or going to a place with frequent gambling among others.

If Leland fulfills all terms and conditions of the agreement, court documents say the indictment and felony charge filed will be dismissed.

Jim Cross with the U.S. Attorney's Office said Leland's case is federal because his crime dealt with money in and out of bank accounts. Cross said when that happens, the person is committing a crime using the interstate banking system.

The diocese said, "This has been a challenging situation for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita. Our priorities throughout have been to assist and secure the financial well-being of St. Francis and St. Ambrose Catholic parishes, which we have done, and to help Fr. Leland navigate this difficult time with justice and mercy. Both Catholic parishes have turned the page and are thriving under the leadership of their new pastor."

Eyewitness News reached out to Leland's attorney but has not heard back.