As Channel 6 News reported earlier this week, authorities are looking into an allegation of fraud at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Search warrants now reveal that police are trying to track down $150,000.

The investigation is focusing on whether a priest used church funds for personal business.

Affidavits say the parish endowment had $82,000 two-and-a-half years ago yet that fund is now depleted. Additionally, a mutual fund containing nearly $72,000 in August 2002 dipped to $4,200 in March.

In a call to the church rectory, we were told the priest in residence, Father Peter Stravinskas, is out of town for several days and we're told the parish will not have any comment on the police investigation.

The search warrant says detectives interviewed an FBI auditor who used to work for the Omaha Archdiocese. Eric Reed provided documentation to show monies from St. Anthony's accounts appeared to be used for the personal expenses of Rev. Peter Stravinskas. That includes travel expenses, mortgage loan payments and private credit card accounts.

An affidavit from a search warrant at the Archdiocese chancery says Chancellor Gregory Baxter related that Father Stravinskas had commingled church and personal funds.

The accusations began with several former parish leaders filing a fraud complaint but some current leaders say the allegations are just sour grapes and that many church members stand behind Father Stravinskas.

An attorney in the parish says a statement will be released to the congregation on Sunday.

Father Stravinskas is not a priest of the Omaha Archdiocese. He's from Boise, Idaho. He was living at Saint Anthony's with the permission of the chancery. He was serving as its administrator.

Stravinskas is also the founder of the Priestly Society of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman. Three priests make up that sect.