A religious leader was detained for using $32,000 of church funds to play Candy Crush.

It's no secret that microtransactions can add up quickly, especially when you're hooked on a game. But what happens when someone takes it too far? Well, that's exactly what happened to a Catholic priest who was recently charged with theft after his church discovered an "astronomical amount" of Apple transactions on their credit card statements.

Microtransactions have become a common practice in video games, whether it's on mobile devices or popular console titles like Fortnite and EA Sports FC 24. Unfortunately, these transactions can lead to some bad habits and ultimately drain your bank account. And that's exactly what happened to this priest, who allegedly spent over $40,000 from his church's funds on in-game purchases for Candy Crush and Mario Kart Tour.

The accused, 51-year-old Reverend Lawrence Kozak, was removed from his position at the church in 2022 after an accountant reviewed their finances and discovered the unusual spending. It was later revealed that Kozak's Apple ID was linked to the credit card statements and that the purchases in question had been ongoing since 2019, up until his removal in 2022.

During a police interview, Kozak admitted to struggling with an addiction to playing and spending money on games. However, he maintained that it was not for gambling purposes but rather to "power up" in the games he was playing. He also denied intentionally using the church's credit cards and claimed that they were connected to his phone for legitimate purchases, although he acknowledged the possibility of accidentally using them.

Interestingly, investigators later discovered that Kozak had sent $8,000 back to the church, labeled as "parish reimbursements." This unusual spending had also caught the attention of the church's business manager, who had previously warned Kozak about mixing the church's expenses with his own.

Kozak has since apologized to the new priest of the church, admitting that he made a mistake and has been working to pay back the money he owes. It's a regrettable situation that serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked spending and the importance of seeking help when struggling with addiction.

In other gaming news, Bethesda's Todd Howard recently stated that Fallout will always be set in America, and AMD has reported a significant decrease in gaming sales. On a lighter note, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma has expressed interest in making a "grounded" movie with less motion capture. And don't forget, you can easily submit your own letters and features to us through our Submit Stuff page. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with all the latest gaming content and exclusive releases.

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