Connecticut priest accused of selling meth may have bought adult shop with drug money

A former Connecticut priest who was charged in a federal crystal meth case sold the drug out of his Waterbury apartment, as well as the parking lot of an adult specialty store and smoke shop that he bought in the fall, according to court documents. 

Investigators believe that Msg. Kevin Wallin, 61, bought the store with drug proceeds and might have intended to use it to launder drug money, according to the complaint.

Drug Enforcement Agents in New Haven started investigating Wallin in July 2012 after New York drug investigators contacted them to look into a Connecticut-based drug trafficker distributing crystal meth in the tri-state are.

In September, New York authorities again contacted local officials and identified Wallin as a suspect in the distribution ring.

Between September 2012 and January 2013, an undercover officer bought crystal meth from Wallin six times, according to federal officials, and determined that Wallin sold drugs to users as well as distributors.

Read more on NBCConnecticut.com.

The documents released on Thursday state that the priest had a large resealable bag filled with crystal meth, a safe in his apartment that contained a large quantity and cash and drug packaging materials that included color-coded resealable bags.

Officials also charged Kenneth Devries, 52, of Waterbury, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Devries lived in an apartment in the same building as Wallin. According to court documents, Wallin paid his rent and the man would allegedly run the drug operation when Wallin was away.   

Officials also charged Michael Nelson, 40, from Manchester; Chad McCluskey, 43, from San Clemente, Calif.; and Kristen Laschober, 47, from Laguna Niguel, Calif..

McCluskey and Laschober are accused of supplying the drugs to Wallin, and court documents indicate that almost $20,000 worth of crystal meth passed between them between August and December.    

The complaint also mentions that Wallin spent some time in drug rehabilitation last fall after his employer ordered him.

Wallin resigned as pastor of Bridgeport's St. Augustine Parish in June 2011 after nine years. 

According to the Diocese of Bridgeport, Wallin told parishioners "that he was struggling with a number of health and personal issues" and he was granted a sabbatical.

"During his sabbatical, the Diocese became concerned about Msgr. Wallin's well-being and have continued to reach out to him," the diocese wrote in a statement. "To date, he has not spoken directly with diocesan officials."

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At least it is't little boys.

Of course, since it's Meth and Federal, I think he'll die in prison. Federal and State authorities will make sure of it.

  • 6 votes
Reply#1 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:03 PM EST

He won't serve more than 5 years.

  • 3 votes
#1.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:28 PM EST

So 'the good" msgr got tired of keeping souls from cooking and decided to cook up some meth instead and had a life occupational shift...right???,Uuuhhh...Right???????????????

No no no no no no...............I CANNOT Say I've seen and read it All, NOT in today's World. When Mom Nature steps in and WHACKS ALL Of Humanity to Extinction, Planet Earth and All Of Her Innocent Children, aka The planet's Animals, Will give out a Sigh Of Relief Heard ThroughOut The Endless Universe.

  • 3 votes
#1.2 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:44 PM EST

the Vatican mandate to making money for the church has gotten out of hand !

the sex in the rectory is no surprise !

  • 2 votes
#1.3 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:55 AM EST

@ of these people are from my neck of the woods in So Orange County, California. If you look them up on facebook they don't look like meth users. To healthy looking for that. They were in it for the money only. As far as those who are trying to connect this to the church, well you all need to grow up and get over yourselves. This is no involvement by the church in this.

  • 2 votes
#1.4 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:39 AM EST

In the slammer he will turn Muslim.

    #1.5 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:42 AM EST

    He must not have had guns.

      #1.6 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:26 AM EST
      Reply

      I wonder how someone that old manages to get into drugs? Just thinking that would have all been behind him.

      • 4 votes
      Reply#2 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:25 PM EST

      $$$$$$$$$

        #2.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:27 AM EST
        Reply

        Doesn't sound like a big operation,20k of meth isn't much more than a pound or so.

        • 2 votes
        Reply#3 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:04 PM EST

        Make and consume meth but don't dare to ask for help or try to give it to anyone else. If you do then you need to die.

        • 3 votes
        Reply#4 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:26 PM EST

        Msg. Kevin Wallin ??????????

        What does that mean?

        • 1 vote
        Reply#5 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:23 PM EST

        Later in the story it calls him Msgr Wallin.

        Again, anyone know what that means?

        • 2 votes
        #5.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:27 PM EST

        McGusto,It means Monsignor which is a way to address a person of the clergy.

        • 4 votes
        #5.2 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:49 PM EST

        Thank you. Which one is right? with or without the R?

        NBC is so sloppy.

        • 1 vote
        #5.3 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:34 PM EST

        Msgr is the correct one of the two given, but it can also be shortened to Mgr.

        • 1 vote
        #5.4 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:04 PM EST

        isn't a monsignor a step-up from a priest and then comes bishop?

        • 2 votes
        #5.5 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:59 PM EST
        Reply

        I'm laughing at the East Coast Blue states. Here comes the Meth Beast you bitches. You thought it was funny when it ravaged Oklahoma. Now it is your turn.

        You guys will be begging for guns.

        • 4 votes
        Reply#6 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:43 PM EST

        What is going on. First little boys and now meth? Oh how the Catholic Church has fallen.

        • 6 votes
        Reply#7 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:09 PM EST

        The Catholic Church fell long ago

        • 6 votes
        #7.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:16 PM EST

        What does this have to do with the Catholic Church? Is no one responsible for their OWN actions anymore? Hell, no! Gotta blame something bigger,.... conveniently something you already despise. Probably makes YOU feel better about your GOOD self. Uck.

        • 4 votes
        #7.2 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:26 PM EST

        Sorry Kassie: It has everything to do with the Catholic church. I was brought up Irish Catholic, but even my father (and I'm a old guy) recognized the ethics in their org was vaporizing.

        How many times should their bad eggs get special treatment?

        • 3 votes
        #7.3 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:37 AM EST

        Got my ethics from Mom,she was a Nurse,I'm a Nurse,my sweeties a Nurse.Some families are cops or firemen.

          #7.4 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:33 AM EST
          Reply

          I heard this stuff happens because Americans took God out of schools back in the 50s.

          /sarcasm

          /but seriously

          • 4 votes
          Reply#8 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:54 PM EST

          it happens because we seemed to have taken common sense out of the schools (and general public).

          • 3 votes
          #8.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:05 PM EST

          You can be sarcastic about it now but there will come a day when you'll change your view of God

          • 2 votes
          #8.2 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:18 PM EST

          That's nonsense. There is absolutely no evidence for gods. Aren't you aware of that?

            #8.3 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:30 AM EST

            If GOD is the name you put on creation? Then how can it be proven wrong.

            If you have a alternate view of creation, spread that idea, politically favor it's issues. then you have created another religion. And are a de-facto faith. Atheism is a faith.

            I'll stay with the until proven mode....Agnostic....

              #8.4 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:44 AM EST

              Want to see an alternate view of creation? Just go to the Zoo and stop at the gorilla cage. That gorilla you look at will someday be walking upright and driving a car. Of course if they don't kill them all off in the meantime.

                #8.5 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:30 AM EST

                Atheist-6939529,

                So you can say without a doubt that there is no God? Wouldn't that mean you know everything? You must be god then,heh since you know everything. There are no true atheists maybe agnostic.

                Tarzan7,

                How many monkeys or gorillas have you seen evolve to a man? NONE and you nor anyone else ever will.

                • 1 vote
                #8.6 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:21 PM EST
                Reply

                He was supplementing his retirement income.I personally don't know why anybody would want to make,distribute or ingest a drug made with rat poison.A fitting punishment for these distributors would be for them to do community service in drug infested neighborhoods.

                • 4 votes
                Reply#9 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:23 PM EST

                I don't think there is rat posion in meth?

                • 1 vote
                Reply#10 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:14 PM EST

                Poison yes.....Rat poison no

                • 2 votes
                #10.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:38 PM EST
                Reply

                Sounds like he went to hell on his sabbatical.

                • 3 votes
                Reply#11 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:15 PM EST

                Sounds like a good plot for a Scorsese/DiCaprio movie.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#12 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:38 PM EST

                if i had to choose between a priest on meth or a priest that owned an adult book store id have to take the priest on meth because owning an adult book store is just weird.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#13 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:55 AM EST

                He's not a priest anymore so why do they have to mention he was one to begin with has nothing to do with him being a priest.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#14 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:14 AM EST

                Drugs and money always attracts human heart. He loved money more than he loved his beloved God.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#15 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:17 AM EST

                Its okay, he made all his customers say 3 hail-mary's when they bought.

                  Reply#16 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:57 AM EST

                  ...more likely he made all his customers 3 rails and a Bloody Mary...

                    #16.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:06 AM EST
                    Reply

                    He'll find God and repent. Two years max. Then back to the flock and the market.

                    Bet he preached up a storm...

                    If meth (or other street drugs) was legal and controlled via your pharmacy: hundreds of millions of dollars, a large portion of police resources and thousands of lives would be saved. Then there are the tax implications to pay for rehab and hospitalizations that occur--YOU PAY FOR THAT TOO. Tax drugs large.

                    Now, criminalization costs everyone (especially taxpayers) the maximum possible. Do you know how much prosecution and courts add to the societal cost. Then there is the cost incarceration, averaging about $27,134 (NC, for example; higher in some other states) that is paid entirely by non-using citizens. Why?

                    Drug policy: another huge fed.gov fiasco that is entirely ineffective. There were drugs before the USA existed and there will be drugs after the Senate and Congress spend the nation into oblivion. There's no control now (you can buy drugs on any street corner in America); legalize and put criminals, thugs and cartels out of the drug business. The DEA doesn't really want the streets in neighborhood to be safe; they want to bust down doors and make you flinch. Put them where they belong; out of business. Be wise, legalize. ©2013

                      Reply#17 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:50 AM EST

                      Before his arrest--a lot of times he "went missing" from his Church .

                      -- He entertained his male "buddies" ( who also wore female wigs).

                      -- He had sex with his buddies in the rectory ( or was it in the rectum?).

                      Where was the Church when this was taking place???

                        Reply#18 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:10 AM EST

                        The Federal Government does hate competition - they prefer Mexican Drug Cartel's and Muslim money funneled to their Democratic Whips!

                          Reply#19 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:58 AM EST

                          i love these guys they are such hypocrites - only because i read facebook once and a while til the preaching and the funniset thing for all the preaching i know what they have done - that's not very kosher

                          i thought it was about god and nothing else

                          in genesis god quotes from the bible

                          in our image and make them like us -that's plural so you can cry all you want but god was talking to an equal which means more than one - a race gods

                          jesus came 2000 years ago - look at history there are a lot more gods before that greeks romans incas

                          i would be curious whos right - looking forward to this

                          i thought the church was god so why are they not opening the vaults they own more land then anyone

                          if they are that sure why not ask them to prove it-they have proved nothing of his existance

                          maybe we should find the deed to america- there has to be an original or they could not sell it

                          lets see who the culprits are

                          the ufo guys know all about that inca god meeting

                          that would be worth a pay per view

                          now not just that but

                          history says the romans killed jesus -i'd be worried if god turns up -if he has wrath - hypothetically how would you feel

                          i relise they are keeping the mourning alive but i didn't do it so i have nothing to worry about - and certainly not worrying about them

                          god came first - thats who people fought for

                          america -one nation under god not jesus

                          you have to figure one or all religion are wrong - and profiting

                          by the way how does intellectual property work

                          america is to diverse to have that attitude around

                            Reply#20 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:41 AM EST

                            Guess incense didn't provide enough kick. Hey, these guys with the white collars are about just like everyone else. They're men, and as such have many temptations. Of course speed trafficking shouldn't be included. Hast la vista Padre................

                              Reply#21 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:18 AM EST

                              i did not deny his existance in fact theres some things science can't explain

                              i would be staudying harder about other gods

                              if theres a god or race of then theres a race of

                                Reply#22 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:19 AM EST

                                Oh I don't believe it. A priest? How shocking, how devastating. A man of the cloth. A Catholic priest I presume. Boy I'm glad I don't go to church and give my money to these kind of people. In fact I'm happy to say that I have Never in my life given a Dime to any church.

                                  Reply#23 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:25 AM EST

                                  He will probably get 20 Hail Marys and 20 Our fathers as his punishment .

                                    Reply#24 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:39 AM EST

                                    Leave it to the Catholics to ruin a perfectly good imaginary god.

                                      Reply#25 - Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:00 AM EST
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