Christian nonprofit founder to spend at least a decade in prison

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(The Center Square) – The former director of an Ohio faith-based nonprofit who pleaded guilty recently to theft and fraud charges will spend more than a decade in prison.

Thomas Ostrosky, 52, founded the Christian ministry The Lazarus Experience in 2017 to help male prisoners reenter society.

Last month, he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the group and its donors, which led to a 10- to 13-year prison sentence, Attorney General Dave Yost said.

The nonprofit is no longer in operation.

“He didn’t just steal money – he deprived the community of a helping hand for inmates seeking a fresh start as law-abiding citizens,” Yost said. “Now, it’s his turn to pay a debt to society.”

Ostrosky must also pay restitution of $207,650.

He pleaded guilty to felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft from a person in a protected class, solicitation fraud and telecommunications fraud. 

Ostrosky was indicted April 14 by a Lucas County grand jury and arrested two days later in Dade City, Fla.