Kevin Wallin, 61, a suspended Roman Catholic priest from Waterbury, CT, is expected to spend the next 11-14 years behind bars after admitting in court to charges conspiracy to “possess with the intent to distribute methamphatomine.” Sentencing will be held June 25th after both Connecticut US Attorney David B. Fein and Wallin’s public defender Kelly Barrett agreed to the term.
Wallin (aka Monsignor Meth) served as the pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Danbury for six years until 2002, then spent the next 9 years as pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Bridgeport before resigning for “health and personal reasons.”
In addition to making more than $300,000 in methamphetamine sales out of his apartment, Wallin also ran an adult video and toy shop named Land of Oz and Dorothy in North Haven, which prosecutors said he used to launder the drug money.
:Msgr. Wallin’s guilty plea represents an important step in his coming to terms with his own actions and their impact on others,” stated the Diocese of Bridgeport. “It is a difficult moment for all of us, but we hope it is also the first step in rebuilding his life. We pray that he moves toward healing and wholeness.”
In addition to jailtime, Wallin now faces the pending move to have him “defrocked” by the Vatican (a process known as laicization).
Meanwhile, charges are still pending against four other people arrested in the case, including Chad McClusky of San Clemente, CA and Kristen Laschober of Laguna Niguel in CA., bith said to have ben involved in shipping the meth to Wallin, as wll as Kenneth Devries also of Waterbury, CT and Michael Nelson of Manchester, CT.
Wallin was originally arrested after selling meth to an undercover officer who bought the drug from him six times between September 20, 2012-January 2, 2013, for a total of $3,400 for 23 grams. Federal agents also said they learned of other sales through wiretaps and informants.
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