In-game transactions have become a goldmine for companies, and when comparing revenues with the traditional model, it's clear why the industry is moving in that direction. While an average player spends $70 USD on a game and may or may not spend more on DLC, someone without control can spend over $40,000 USD on a free-to-play game, like a... Priest?
A priest in the USA spent over $40,000 on mobile games
According to a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer (via San Diego Red), 51-year-old Reverend Lawrence Kozak had to pay a $250,000 USD bail to avoid jail because he was accused of stealing from the church where he worked from 2019 to 2022. The reason? It was discovered that during that period, the clergyman spent over $40,000 USD on mobile games like Candy Crush and Mario Kart Tour.
The recent arrest of Lawrence Kozak, who was a priest in Pottstown, Pennsylvania during the mentioned period, was the culmination of an investigation initiated by authorities after the church's accountant discovered charges to the credit card that didn't correspond to traditional products or services but to transactions made in the App Store, which added up to over $40,000 USD.
According to the investigations, the priest was interviewed by the police in 2022 about this situation and stated that he was undergoing treatment for his gaming addiction but claimed that he didn't use the money for gambling but for content in free-to-play titles. In his testimony, Kozak denied acting intentionally, stating that the church's credit card was already linked to the mobile device he used, so he didn't realize that his expenses were charged to the church's account and not his own.
However, the police found evidence of the use of the church's credit card and attempts by the priest to reduce the debt, including a $10,000 USD payment for said card with money from his personal account.
Lawrence Kozak was dismissed from the church in 2022, and at that time, he sent an $8000 check as reimbursement for what he spent on mobile games. However, the investigation didn't end there, and a few days ago, authorities determined that there were grounds to accuse the priest of embezzling funds from the church, so he was arrested. After paying bail, the priest will go through the legal process while remaining free, but he has committed to covering the sum and repairing the financial damage done.
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