According to Fox News.com, the Catholic priest indicted by a federal grand
jury in an alleged nationwide methamphetamine ring was reportedly suspended
after Connecticut church officials discovered
he was a cross-dresser who was having sex in the rectory at Bridgeport's St. Augustine Cathedral.
The Connecticut Post reports that Monsignor Kevin Wallin was relieved of his
duties in May, but the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport continued to pay
the 61-year-old man a stipend until his Jan. 3 arrest. Wallin had planned to
fly to London
that day, the newspaper reports.
At one point, Wallin, who is now dubbed "Msgr. Meth" by some, was selling
upwards of $9,000 of meth a week, including shipments from Connecticut
to California,
according to his indictment.
In his post-priesthood life, Wallin, of Waterbury,
purchased an adult specialty and video store in North
Haven called Land of Oz that sold sex toys and adult videos.
Investigators believe the shop helped him launder thousands of dollars in
weekly profits, the newspaper reports.
Wallin's arrest shocked residents throughout Bridgeport
and Danbury,
where he was known as a charismatic speaker who was involved in many charitable
activities. He often attended musicals with his mentor, former New York
Cardinal Edward Egan and parishioners.
"There is an evil invading our world and it has come to our
church," longtime St. Augstine parishioner Maria Spencer-Fonseca told the
newspaper. "This was a work of evil — and I am praying for the
monsignor."
Therese Ruppert, a parishioner at the Church
of St. Peter in Danbury, where Wallin was pastor from 1996 to
2002, said she "can't fathom" the news.
"He was so spiritual," Ruppert told the newspaper. "His sermons were
wonderful. He had such knowledge of theology."
Wallin, who is represented by a federal public defender, was among five
people indicted Tuesday on charges of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or
more of a substance containing methamphetamine and 50 grams of actual
methamphetamine. Wallin has been jailed without bond pending an arraignment
next week and faces at least 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
Also charged are Kenneth Devries, 52, of Waterbury;
Michael Nelson, 40, of Manchester; Chad
McCluskey, 43, of San Clemente, Calif.; and Kristen Laschober, 47, of Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Wallin resigned as St. Augustine's
pastor in June 2011 after serving nine years in the post, citing health and
personal issues, the Diocese of Bridgeport said in a statement. Diocese
officials granted him a sabbatical the following month.
During the sabbatical, diocese officials became concerned about Wallin's
well-being and reached out to him, but he has never spoken directly to church
officials, the diocese said in the statement, which did not elaborate.
Wallin's faculties for public ministry were suspended in May 2012 and he has
not been reassigned, the diocese said.
"News of Msgr. Kevin Wallin's arrest comes with a sense of shock and
concern on the part of the diocese and the many people of Fairfield County
who have known him as a gifted, accomplished and compassionate priest,"
the diocese said. "The diocese stands ready to help as it has throughout
the past two years. We ask for prayers for Msgr. Wallin during the difficult
days ahead for him."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Monsignor Kevin Wallin of the Diocese of Bridgeport, 2010. (Connecticut Post file photo)
