Holy cow!
A recently demoted Brooklyn priest whose church finances are under federal investigation has an impressive real estate portfolio worth more than $2 million, including a house in the Hamptons and a pricey waterfront condo in Florida, a review of records by The Post reveal.
Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, who had his pastoral duties yanked at Our Lady of Mount Carmel — Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary last week even peddled a $2,000-a-week timeshare on the resort island of St. Martin on Facebook in October, the review found.
While there is no indication that the real estate holdings are improper or skirt the law, the feds’ review of Our Lady of Carmel’s finances and Gigantiello’s personal wealth has come under scrutiny after his demotion by the Brooklyn Diocese amid questionable loans to a connected city lawyer.
“Monsignor Jamie is definitely an operator, but he’s a good guy,” one law enforcement source said. “He raises a lot of money for the church and he definitely knows how to raise money. [Yet,] I can’t see him getting involved in anything illegal.
“Feels like a wheeler dealer. Very out there,” the source said. “But there’s always an angle. Obviously he has connections to the NYPD but he’s always trying to do the right thing.”
His Long Island spread in Southampton, which Gigantiello bought in 2021 for $605,000 and co-owns with fellow Brooklyn pastor, is now valued at more than $700,000, according to the records.
Sources said the house has hosted parties for city insiders in the past, including NYPD brass.
Gigantiello’s condo in Pompano Beach, which he purchased in 2009 for $417,000, now has a market value of more than $1.4 million, the records show.
The popular and well-connected pastor, who has not been charged with any crime by the feds, did not return calls and declined to comment when approached outside the church on Sunday.
The co-owner of the Long Island home, who is not being identified by The Post, did not return a call while a rep for the diocese declined to comment, citing investigations by the feds and the diocese.
Gigantiello, well known among the Big Apple’s power brokers, is a familiar figure at fundraisers for needy causes and is a vocal supporter of the NYPD and some of the city’s most successful charities.
The priest is also a colorful figure who has authored a cookbook and has his own line of Italian sauces.
He first got into hot water last year when he allowed pop diva Sabrina Carpenter to film a sexy video inside the 160-year-old church, prompting the diocese to relieve him of administrative duties.
In September, sources revealed that the feds served a subpoena seeking records of Our Lady of Carmel’s finances, including dealings with attorney Frank Carone, a former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams.
Then, last week, the diocese announced it was stripping Gigantiello of pastoral duties at the Brooklyn parish, citing $1.9 million in loans to Carone’s companies in 2019 and 2021.
In a statement, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan said Gigantiello “did not inform diocesan officials or seek the required approval” for the transfer of church funds to the companies.
Brennan also cited the decision to allow Carpenter’s racy music video at the church.
Despite the controversy, Our Lady of Carmel parishioners were standing by their pastor.
“Monsignor Jamie has done nothing but good for this parish and he has done nothing but good for any parish that he’s been with,” parishioner Joseph Peluso told The Post on Sunday.
“He’s made every parish that he’s been in better, not worse,” Peluso said. “He’s never taken money, he’s never put money in is pocket, though that’s what they’re trying to say. He didn’t. In fact, when he came here there was $1.9 million between these two parishes.”
Supporters said Gigantiello raised funds for upgrades at his church, while sources note that the monsignor is active in fundraising and charity events for the needy in the city.
“I’ve been here like 100 years — my grandparents went here when they came from Italy,” said Mount Carmel faithful Joseph Ciuffo. “Monsignor Jamie has baptized my children. He has, OK, married them. He was there when my mother was dying. He has done nothing but good here.
“He’s evangelized the neighborhood, the parish, which is part of what he was sent to do.”
