Former St. Joseph’s Catholic School principal, assistant principal arrested for stealing over 800k

Former principal and assistant principal of St.Joseph Catholic School, Edwin Gallagher, 81, and Richard Fish, 72, have been charged with misapplication of fiduciary property and theft.

Back in June of 2016 ABC-7 reported that the District Attorney was investigating the case of both men misusing more than $800,000 from the school.

An affidavit states that shortly after Gallagher and Fish retired, the school’s new bookkeeper discovered some accounting issues and went to the Diocese finance office.

El Paso Police financial crimes detectives conducted the investigation after an audit by the Catholic Diocese revealed over $800,000 used for personal expenses.

The investigation revealed lavish spending by the two, at department stores, restaurants, air travel, lodging, and cash withdrawals at various casinos.

Over a five-year span, from June 2010 to July 2015 the two spent over $800,000.

The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office and on September 9th, a grand jury indicted Gallagher and Fish on one count each of, misapplication of fiduciary/financial property over $200,000 and theft over $200,000.

Both were booked under $5,000 bonds.

An affidavit obtained by ABC-7 states that Gallagher and Fish have admitted to the Order’s President of using the school’s money to pay for personal expenses.

Gallagher and Fish were in charge of the school for 25 years before they retired in June of 2015.