Perennial candidate sentenced to federal prison for falsely redeeming church bonds

Taras Nykoriak, left, talks with Detroit police about issues happening with the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church located just outside of Hamtramck. Nykoriak was recently imprisoned for illegally redeeming US bonds belonging to the church.

Taras Nykoriak, left, talks with Detroit police about issues happening with the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church located just outside of Hamtramck. Nykoriak was recently imprisoned for illegally redeeming US bonds belonging to the church.

 

 

By Charles Sercombe
For over 10 years Taras Nykoriak of Hamtramck has run for Wayne County Sheriff, as well as for other public offices.
He never stood a chance of winning, considering he is largely an unknown running as a Republican in heavily Democratic Wayne County.
But now he is getting first-hand experience of a jail. He was recently sentenced to16 months in prison.
Nykoriak, 28, was convicted in federal court for cashing in over $70,000 worth of US bonds belonging to St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church located just outside of the Hamtramck border on Buffalo.
Nykoriak’s involvement in the church took many twists and turns. According to news reports by WDIV Channel 4, Nykoriak ingratiated himself with the church starting back in 2014.
He apparently started a division in the church which pitted some newcomers against oldtimers. At one point he was living inside the church. At another point, he was presenting himself as a priest to the public.
At a gathering last December in Zussman Park in which the Muslim community held a rally to protest against terrorism, Nykoriak wore a priest’s collar and spoke at the event.
Last year at Nykoriak’s urging, a longtime parishioner of St. Andrew was arrested by Detroit police for trespassing while attending a service. That parishioner was never charged.
But it was the start of Nykoriak’s undoing.
According to charges filed against him. Nykoriak “misrepresented that he was acting on behalf” of the church. He did so by redeeming nine bonds belonging to the parish, totaling $73,170.
There was also footage shown by WDIV of Nykoriak wearing a priest’s collar as he redeemed a bond at a bank.
At first the federal government told the church to stop redeeming the bonds, and Nykoriak, acting on behalf of the church, agreed to repay what had been redeemed. He never followed up though.
The matter never went to trial and Nykoriak subsequently pled guilty to the charges.
Interestingly, the court noted that Nykoriak goes by several aliases. Those who know him also said he has been living in Warren, not Hamtramck.
Nykoriak filed a lawsuit against the Hamtramck Police Department on another matter, claiming he was falsely arrested.
When he was about 10 or 12 years old, Nykoriak would attend city council meetings, dressed up in a trench coat, and proclaimed he would one day become mayor of the city.
Several media outlets did feature stories on him.
Nykoriak was also interviewed while he was in Ukraine where he reported on the Russian military aggression going on at one time.
Part of his plea deal requires him to pay back the church. His prison sentence could have been much worse, up to 10 years for each charge, or in other words a total of 90 years.
A former parishioner, who asked not to be identified, described Nykoriak as a “real con artist.”

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