‘Masquerading as a man of faith’: Catholic priest gets life in prison for grooming and sex trafficking young boys with opioid addictions over decades

A Catholic priest in Ohio will spend the rest of his life in prison for grooming and sex trafficking children and adults, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

In May, Rev. Michael Jude Zacharias, 56, was convicted on one count of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.

The condemned man met his victims — young children at the time — while working as a seminarian at St. Catherine’s Catholic Parish in Toledo, evidence at trial showed. There, he began gaining their trust and then turning it against them.

You May Also Like

Officials Say No Evidence of ‘New England Serial Killer’ As Internet Hypes the Idea

Police in a seaside Connecticut town have identified a body found near…

Austin Metcalf: Third Swatting Call Targets Slain Teen’s Family in Frisco

Frisco police in Texas say officers responded Monday to a report of…

The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Deaf Rubio’s State Department by Bill Day, FloridaPolitics.com To include your event…

'90s Stars You Forgot Went To Prison

Nancy R. Schiff/Getty Images…