James Tamburrino

Ordained: 1998

James Tamburrino is one of four Carmelite priests who was accused of paying a 16 year old boy for sex, according to USA Today.  A lawsuit filed in 2001 alleges that between approximately 1996 and 1998, the four priests would give him money in exchange for sexual favors.  The lawsuit further alleges that the priests engaged in “group masturbation.”  It was alleged that Tamburrino threatened the boy with harm if he exposed their sexual escapades and even “became involved in a physical altercation” with the boy in order to intimidate him. It has previously been reported that Tamburrino was disciplined in Peru for sexual misconduct with an underage parishioner.

In 2002, Tamburrino was arrested on charges of aggravated harassment and stalking of a New York man. In 2005, Tamburrino was arrested again for allegedly asking a 15 year old boy to pose for erotic photos.  An erotic photo of a young child was reportedly linked to Tamburrino.  He was found guilty of the use of a child in a sexual performance, attempting to use a child in a sexual performance, possessing a sexual performance by a child and two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.