New York reverend arrested for collecting nearly $250,000 from pension checks sent to dead teacher

The Rev. Victor Rosa, 72, is accused by federal prosecutors of cashing the monthly payments for more than a decade after his tenant Maria Sicardo passed away in 2000.

He also sent authorities bogus letters with a forged, notarized signature to prove she was still alive and living at her address.

Rosa, who worked as a pastor at Esperanza Y Buen Samaritan Mi food pantry in the Bronx, was arrested in Orlando on Oct. 6 after investigators closed in on his ruse.

Reached by phone yesterday, the pastor, who was released without bail, denied the charges.

"I don't know nothing about that; it's news to me," said a man who identified himself as Rosa and confirmed he owned the Vyse Ave. building Sicardo lived in until her death.

"I have a ministry. I'm away right now. I'm in Florida taking medication ... I'm an old man. I don't have to go through all of this."

Rosa's alleged con began as soon as Sicardo passed away in April 2000 at St. Barnabas Hospital, aged 75, feds say.

Each time a check arrived in the mail, the pastor would visit Claremont Check Cashing Co. Inc. where he often preached to customers standing in line and never failed to leave without saying: "God bless you", staff said.

When an employee questioned why he always came to cash a woman's checks, Rosa told them she lived in the building he owned and he was helping her out, Florida prosecutors charge.