The Rev. Francis Guinan, 66, was found guilty in February of second-degree grand theft.
Prosecutors had charged him with stealing $488,000 from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. But jurors found him guilty on the lesser charge of stealing under US$100,000 ($NZ172,500).
Guinan had faced up to 15 years in prison.
"I'm deeply sorry," Guinan told the judge on Wednesday, adding that his month in jail since his conviction should be considered "sufficient time."
The Rev. John Skehan, 81, was sentenced on Tuesday to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than US$370,000 from the same church. He will also serve seven years probation and will pay more than US$700,000 in restitution.
Authorities claimed the two priests took the money to fund lavish lifestyles, including upscale homes, gambling trips and rare coin collections. They believed the money stolen over the years was in the millions, but a statute of limitations kept them from pursuing charges on the larger theft.
An anonymous parishioner tipped prosecutors in April 2005, prompting police to contact the church, which was already conducting its own investigation.
Guinan argued at his trial that he believed a priest could spend as much as US$50,000 on any one item without reporting it to the diocese.
Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Krista Marx said it was "extremely troubling ... that a reasonable person" could believe spending the church's money was justified.
"You must be punished for your egregious abuse of authority," Marx said.
She sentenced Guinan to four years in state prison, less the time he has already served in jail, plus $99,999 restitution.
Before his sentence, five people testified in support of Guinan, noting that he has suffered enough by the church having revoked his ability to practice as a priest.
"He has been denied of the priesthood which is everything to him," the Rev. Anthony Mulderry told the judge. "I would ask you ... to think that he has already suffered enough."
"No question that there was violation of trust," added Guinan's attorney, Richard Barlow. However, he said any prison time for a man of Guinan's age "is a death sentence."
Guinan was accused of stealing the church's money between 2003 and 2005, and ordering that the books be altered to hide it from the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Prosecutor Preston Mighdoll said he "violated a position of trust in the community."
Mighdoll sought up to 10 years prison time for Guinan.
"This was an act of betrayal by a priest who is held to a higher standard," Mighdoll told the judge. "He did not admit wrongdoing or demonstrate any remorse."
Outside court, supporters complained that the entire case should have been handled by the church.
"Obviously, we're devastated," said the Rev. Nicholas King. "But this should never have happened in a public forum."
The Diocese of Palm Beach had no comment.
Barlow said he was pleased with the sentence.
"I thought Judge Marx would have given him 15 years," he said. "I'm actually very surprised and actually very happy with it."
