Legal Aide to Pope Is Charged in Fraud
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A monsignor who has counseled Pope John Paul II appeared in court on charges alleging he used his Vatican ties to help an international financier scam millions of dollars from insurance companies.
Federal prosecutors say Msgr. Emilio Colagiovanni, 81, who lives in Rome, aided Martin Frankel, who is accused of buying insurance companies and looting them of more than $200 million.
Colagiovanni, who has served on the board that provides legal counsel to the pope, was charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
He appeared in federal court in Bridgeport, Conn. He was released on $500,000 bond but will be under house arrest, officials said.
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