Businessman Implicated in Complex Money Laundering Scandal Involving Ephraimite Monasteries

In a front page story on Thursday, April 3, 2014, The Wall Street Journal’s Financial Reporter Ben Hope brought a story to light allegedly exposing a Greek American businessman from Milwaukee and serious money-laundering allegations involving millions of dollars, illegally funneled through the so-called Greek Orthodox Ephraimite Monasteries in the United States.

Emmanuel Mamalakis, the man behind the scandal, is being investigated by the government for money laundering activities.

The story claims the scheme began under a gazebo at St. Anthony’s Monastery in Florence, Arizona and included a mix of shady and “eccentric” people including mathematicians, priests and wanna-be monks.

Mamalakis is crying fowl, after his home was raided by the FBI, calling the case a classic “abuse of power” by the feds and also adding that he’s been approached by “ghostwriters” who want to share his story.

“It’s such a messed-up story of abuse of power and millions of dollars and the FBI,” Mamalakis told the Milwaukee Business Journal April 4.

In an ironic twist to this story, Mamalakis’ name has also been the focal point of a very public attack and numerous accusations against his former priest, Fr. James Dokos, who used to serve at Mamalakis’ home parish, the Annunciation Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Fr. Dokos’ wife and daughter both used to work for Mamalakis and could be privy to many of his dealings.

Mamalakis has accused Dokos of misappropriation of funds donated to the parish by a parishioner and the case has been all over the Midwestern mainstream media over the past eight months.

The accusations against Dokos come at an interesting and coincidental time, as Mamalakis’ complex business empire begins to unravel under government scrutiny.