Great Lakes Wire

Today, David Rosenberg, a 72-year-old resident of DeWitt, was sentenced to four to twenty years in prison by Judge Cori Barkman at the 29th Circuit Court. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the sentence following Rosenberg's conviction last month by a Clinton County jury on eight felony counts related to embezzlement from retired priests.

Rosenberg, who served as Director of the Lansing Catholic Diocese’s St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt from 2015 to 2021, was found guilty of embezzling approximately $780,000 from three elderly priests. The funds were diverted to his charitable foundation, FaithFirst, previously known as the Rosenberg Family Corporation. The Retreat Center property includes housing for retired priests.

The court has yet to finalize the restitution amount owed to the victims' estates, with further negotiations possible between involved parties.

Rosenberg's convictions include three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult involving amounts of $100,000 or more; one count each of false pretenses for amounts over $100,000 and between $20,000-$50,000; perjury; uttering and publishing; and larceny involving amounts of $20,000 or more.

"Stealing from our elderly and vulnerable adults, especially from a position of authority, is a significant crime and this sentence reflects that," stated Nessel. "My department will continue to prosecute these crimes on behalf of victims living or deceased, and it is our hope that would-be thieves and scammers see this is a serious offense that can get them years behind bars."