Another Papal Grievance Pegged on Hathaway's Ex

Atlantic City priest claims Raffaello Follieri fleeced him of $110,000 he inherited from his parents

By Natalie Finn Sep 23, 2008 11:30 PMTags
Raffaello Follieri, Anne HathawayDimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

In case Anne Hathaway was having second thoughts about the whole breakup thing...

A Roman Catholic priest in Atlantic City has accused the actress' ex-boyfriend, Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri, of bilking him out of a $110,000 inheritance, claiming he needed the money to pay nuns.

Pay them for what, we're not sure.

"Utilizing the exact same scheme and behavior, the same confidence man that separated one of this country's richest men from his money, also separated this priest from his trusting nature," William Hughes, attorney for Monsignor William Hodge, wrote in a letter to federal prosecutors in which he urged that his client be added to the list of Follieri's alleged victims.

Follieri pleaded guilty earlier this month to federal wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges after being charged with fleecing investors by claiming to be a representative of the Vatican who had been dispatched to raise money for real-estate ventures—and using some of those ill-gotten gains to finance his and Hathaway's high-flying lifestyle.

He's facing up to five years and three months behind bars. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Since his arrest in June, Vatican officials have disavowed any connection with Follieri or his stateside activities.

Hodge says he met Follieri when he came to Atlantic City looking to scoop up some vacant properties owned by Hodge's church, St. Nicholas of Tolentine.

Per the New York Daily News, Hodge has also denied reports that Follieri hired him to make his Vatican "connections" seem more valid to potential investors.