Clevelend man convicted of claiming to be a bishop

February, 10 2009 (Cleveland.com) — A Cleveland man who calls himself a bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Exile was found guilty Tuesday of identity fraud, telecommunications fraud, misuse of credit cards, forgery and theft.

Sava Cosas, 51, opened a credit card account using another man's name and personal information in April 2007, said Ryan Miday, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office.

He used the card to make purchases totaling $6,721.34, authorities say. Cosas also forged a check for $650 in the name of Robert Anderson, 60, priest in the Syro Russian Orthodox Church, Miday said.

If convicted of all charges in this case, Cosas faces a maximum of four years in prison. He could be sentenced to more than a decade in prison.

Nicolae Condrea, archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church in America, has said Cosas is not a part of the church.