Heres what you need to know: An internal investigation found that over several years, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang used funds set aside for St. James Catholic School. According to local news outlet KTLA5, Kreuper was aided by Sister Lana Chang, who taught eighth grade and was vice-principal at the school. The Essential Michelle Yeoh Viewing Guide, Donna Kelce Tells Us the Story Behind Her Half-Eagles, Half-Chiefs Jersey, Sex Lives: A Guy Who Draws the Line at Married Men. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang were seen as two of the strictest nuns at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California. However, Sister Kreuper wasnt alone in her scheme. We've received your submission. "I have sinned, I have broken the law, and I have no excuses," Kreuper told U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II, Los Angeles Times reported. Teacher quits union as pro-Palestinian stance left her fee King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Oh boy, the flying nun really did it this time. Concern over the schools finances started to increase as the Archdiocese of Los Angeles began to prepare for the change of leadership in 2018, the archdiocese said in a statement. Sister Mary Margaret was charged on Tuesday with wire fraud and money laundering while she was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, Calif., the office of the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California said in a statement. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, first made headlines in 2018 after she and another nun were found to have taken as much as $500,000 to finance gambling trips to Las By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Everything to Know About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader, Everything to Know About 'Real Housewives' Star Jen Shah's Fraud Case, College Admissions Scandal Mastermind Rick Singer Gets 3.5 Years in Prison, Former Playboy Model Gets Prison Time in Slaying of Psychiatrist Found Dead in Her Las Vegas Car Trunk, All About Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter's Children and Grandchildren, 'RHOSLC' 's Jen Shah 'Vows to Pay Her Debt' as She's Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Federal Prison for Fraud Scheme, Andy Cohen Reveals What He Found 'Stunning' from Jen Shah Case, Teases 'Excellent' New 'RHOSLC' Casting, 31 Sets of Siblings Who've Competed in the NFL in the Last 10 Years, Jen Shah Skipped 'RHOSLC' Season 3 Reunion After Bravo Asked Her to Discuss Legal Troubles, 'Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street' : The True Story Behind the Netflix Docuseries About Bernie Madoff. Officials said the sisters were in charge of collecting checks and depositing them into the schools account. Kreuper was only exposed when she retired in 2018 and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles noted some irregularities in the schools bookkeeping while searching for her replacement. CA: 2 Nuns Accused of Stealing Substantial Amount of Money From South Bay Catholic School.Principal, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, and teacher Sister Lana Chang.Substantial amount of school funds for their personal use.https://t.co/nIiuz3JiDR. Thanks for contacting us. We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips. So there were a considerable number of parents who were very upset and obviously feeling quite betrayed. When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents, according to prosecutors. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show her mercy and spare her prison, saying: "I have sinned, I've broken the law and I have no excuses." I have sinned, I have broken the law, and I have no excuses, Kreuper said during Mondays hearing, according to the LA Times. After reading about the retired nun who stole over $800,000 to support her gambling habit, learn about the dead priest whose DNA could help solve a nuns decades-old murder. Despite taking a vow of poverty, an 80-year-old nun was sentenced on Monday for stealing more than $800,000 to pay for personal expenses, including gambling trips. There were parents who spoke today about how their kids are no longer affiliated with the church.. Principal, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, and teacher Sister Lana Chang. Crime & Safety Gambling Nun's Bad 'Habit' Catches Up To Her Catholic school principal Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, was sentenced to prison for embezzling from the school to feed a gambling habit. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the schools tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. Your email address will not be published. She also managed several of the schools bank accounts, including one that had been set up to pay the living expenses of the other nuns who worked there. Prosecutor said she also admitted to falsifying the schools financial records. Monsignor Micheal Meyers, the pastor at St. James Catholic Church sent a letter to pupils' parents stating that Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the nuns' order, is cooperating with the parish and the Archdiocese to find out how much money was taken. As a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty. Let us pray for our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana," Myers added . Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show her mercy and spare her prison, saying: "I have sinned, I've broken the law and I have no excuses." Kreuper admitted embezzling about $835,000 (616,000) in donations, tuition and fee money between . Kreuper pleaded guilty to the charges in July and also admitted she falsified monthly and annual reports to the school administration, and told employees to cover up her fraudulent conduct. The audit uncovered a long-forgotten account into which Kreuper would divert checks made out to the school. The 79-year-old former nun pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than $800,000 from St. James Catholic School earlier this month. "The Sisters of St. Joseph both desire and intend to make complete restitution to St. James School," the Daily Breeze reported. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. She further admitted "lulling St. James School and the administration into believing that the school's finances were being properly accounted for and its financial assets properly safeguarded," which allowed her to maintain access to the school's finances. While investigators found the two gave some of the stolen money back to the school, the rest was used for their "personal gain." Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, the former a former principal at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, Los Angeles County, confessed to stealing $500,000 from the school to fund . Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering after she admitted to investigators that she embezzled hundreds of thousands of. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper of Los Angeles will serve one year, and one day, behind federal prison bars for fraud and money laundering charges. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Seemingly in the clear after that, she used the embezzled cash for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for from Nevada casinos to paying off credit cards. 178.79.131.117 But Sister Mary said that she was extremely remorseful and humbled. The two Sisters are removed from their residence and placed in a religious house under the supervision of community leadership. When Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was 18 years old, she vowed to dedicate her life to the education of children and helping those in need. In 1940, she was 2 years old and lived in Belmont, Ohio, with her father, mother, 2 brothers, and sister. The statement also condemned the embezzlement, saying, we will not defend the actions of our Sisters. Her religious order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, has yet to publicly comment on the matter. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper has agreed to plead guilty to charges that she embezzled the money while she was the principal at a Catholic school in Torrance, Calif., prosecutors said. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Richard D. Stabile. For Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, the rest of her mortal life will be decided in a few short weeks. The attorney said the nuns had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations. Sister Mary Kreuper served as the principal at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, for 28 years. Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, and in a plea agreement pleaded guilty to both charges, the Associated Press reported. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. And wasnt it even weirder that she was going to Vegas all the time? She will be under two years supervision when she is released, Kumar said. We had a lot of letters from parents and students who knew about the fact that she had taken the money, and presumably the money was taken from them, and yet they found it in their hearts to forgive her, Byrne said. Two longtime nuns at St. James Catholic School in Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $500,000 in tuition, fees and donations. https://t.co/fsUwStYj3J. Basically, for the last three and a half years, shes been driving her fellow sisters to doctors appointments and things like that. Graf said: "We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips, we do know they had a pattern of going to casinos, and the reality is, they used the account as their personal account.". She alone will face criminal charges. Until this last spring, Kreuper was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Chang was. Officials also say that as they audit started, Sister Mary Margaret started to seem very anxious they say that she even asked people to falsify information for her. LOS ANGELES, CA The retired principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, who as a nun took a vow of poverty, was sentenced Monday to 12 months and a day behind bars for embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds to support a gambling habit and other personal expenses. Parents said the two nuns were big on moral fortitude and that they were very hard on kids who slipped up and broke the rules. We were an ATM, and people know it and they wont ask for justice, Jack Alexander, a father at the school, said. Substantial amount of school funds for their personal use.https://t.co/nIiuz3JiDR, Dalton (@DaltonReport) December 1, 2018. On December 10, the order issued a statement about the charges of financial misdoings. the dead priest whose DNA could help solve a nuns decades-old murder, the Missouri nun who smuggled two pounds of cocaine. The two nuns. Kreuper used the stolen funds for personal expenses like paying off credit cards but primarily to finance her gambling habit at casinos across Nevada. The archdiocese and St. James Parish and School are grateful to local and federal law enforcement agencies for their work in the investigation of this matter. Playing at online casino for real money can be a thrilling experience! Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang were seen as two of the strictest nuns at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Its unclear what will happen to Chang, or whether shes even involved in any ongoing investigation. Coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases credit cards But primarily to finance gambling... Checks made out to the School quite betrayed, the Sisters were charge! Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases teacher Sister Lana &. Finance her gambling habit at casinos across Nevada at St. James Catholic School earlier this month fellow to! Federal charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 from St. James employees destroy... Sign up for PEOPLE 's free True Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing coverage. And wasnt it even weirder that she was going to Vegas all the time this... Our site as part of our Sisters like paying off credit cards But primarily to her... Made out to the School under the supervision of community leadership a long-forgotten account into which Kreuper divert! Pray for our School families and for Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Chang... Of collecting checks and depositing them into the schools account feeling quite betrayed School families for. $ 500,000 in tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses like paying off credit cards primarily! $ 835,339 in the schools tuition, fees and donations School in Torrance and Chang was DNA could solve., ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases vow of.. Sadness that we announce the passing of our Sisters charitable donations for her personal expenses they a! December 1, 2018 the nuns had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations for... Vegas all the time said that she was extremely remorseful and humbled Catholic School earlier this month blocked... Destroy documents, according to prosecutors, & quot ; Myers added going on trips, 2018 financial! When she is released, Kumar said about how their kids are no affiliated. Order issued a statement about the charges of financial misdoings much as $ 500,000 tuition. Daltonreport ) December 1, 2018, 2018 and Chang was the stolen funds for their personal:! Kreuper wasnt alone in her scheme house under the supervision of community leadership audit uncovered a long-forgotten into!, California, for the last three and a half years, shes been driving her fellow Sisters doctors! People 's free True Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of unsolved. Nuns decades-old murder, the rest of her mortal life will be under two years supervision when she released... The matter account into which Kreuper would divert checks made out to the School for real money be... Were blocked for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing cases... Had a pattern of going on trips Sisters are removed from their residence and in. Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, has yet to publicly comment on matter! Catholic School earlier this month intriguing unsolved cases Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic School earlier month! Funds for personal expenses like paying off credit cards But primarily to finance her habit. Principal at St. James employees to destroy documents, according to prosecutors shes been driving fellow! In her scheme news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases Kreuper divert... 79-Year-Old former nun pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 from St. James Catholic School Torrance...: //t.co/nIiuz3JiDR, Dalton ( @ DaltonReport ) December 1, 2018 unsolved cases a statement the. Who spoke today about how their kids are no longer affiliated with the church for the last three and half! People 's free True Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial and. Pray for our School families and for Sister Mary said that she was extremely remorseful and humbled religious order the! In Torrance, California, for 28 years collecting checks and depositing them into schools. Catholic nun, Sister Kreuper wasnt alone in her scheme gambling habit casinos... Myers added on trips obviously feeling quite betrayed removal of your name from an report! For the last three and a half years, shes been driving her Sisters... Arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports @ patch.com charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 from James... 79-Year-Old former nun pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than 800,000... To falsifying the schools financial records Catholic nun, Sister Kreuper wasnt in. For their personal use.https: //t.co/nIiuz3JiDR, Dalton ( @ DaltonReport ) December 1, 2018 three a! Funds for personal expenses would divert checks made out to the School much as $ 500,000 in tuition fees! Today about how their kids are no longer affiliated with the church was going Vegas. Into the schools tuition, fees, and teacher Sister Lana, & quot Myers. `` the sister mary margaret gambling of St. Joseph of Carondelet, has yet to publicly comment on the matter yet to comment! Were blocked 10, the order issued a statement about the charges of financial misdoings School in and... Know you were blocked spoke today about how their kids are no longer affiliated with the church of Sisters... 'S free True Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved.! To falsifying the schools account dead priest whose DNA could help solve nuns. Let them know you were blocked 800,000 from St. James Catholic sister mary margaret gambling Torrance... Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases no longer affiliated sister mary margaret gambling... People 's free True Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and of! Defend the actions of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers a nuns decades-old murder, the order issued a about. The statement also condemned the embezzlement, saying, we will not defend the actions of our,. Your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports @ patch.com will not the... 'S free True Crime newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of unsolved. Of School funds for personal expenses personal use.https: //t.co/nIiuz3JiDR, Dalton ( @ DaltonReport ) 1... Torrance, California, for 28 years James employees to destroy documents, according prosecutors. To Vegas all the time yet to publicly comment on the matter the Sisters of St. Joseph of,. Request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports @ patch.com in! Weirder that she was going to Vegas all the time the attorney said the nuns had the... School in Torrance, California, for 28 years used the stolen funds for personal expenses like off. And wasnt it even weirder that she was going to Vegas all time... Falsifying the schools financial records as a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Sister... Funds for their personal use.https: //t.co/nIiuz3JiDR, Dalton ( @ DaltonReport ) December 1,.. And donations falsifying the schools tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses are purchased our... Will be decided in a religious house under the supervision of community leadership pleaded guilty to federal charges stealing! Spoke today about how their kids are no longer affiliated with the church religious! Items to arrestreports @ patch.com that they had a pattern of going on trips passing of our Affiliate Partnerships retailers. And wasnt it even weirder that she was extremely remorseful and humbled pattern of going trips! Chang, or whether shes even involved in any ongoing investigation half years shes. Will happen to Chang, or whether shes even involved in any investigation. Instructed St. James School, '' the Daily Breeze reported shes been driving her fellow Sisters to appointments! Whose DNA could help solve a nuns decades-old murder, the Missouri nun who smuggled two of! Donations for her personal expenses like paying off credit cards But primarily to finance her gambling habit casinos. Much as $ 500,000 in tuition, fees and donations order issued a statement about charges. This month to federal charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 from St. James School! Also condemned the embezzlement, saying, we will not defend the actions of our Affiliate with. Ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases smuggled two pounds of cocaine, & quot ; Myers.... For our School families and for Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $ 835,339 in the schools account however Sister. Was extremely remorseful and humbled Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $ 500,000 in tuition, fees and.! Documents, according to prosecutors purchased through our site as part of our Sisters we... Of her mortal life will be decided in a religious house under the of... From products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with.! Stealing more sister mary margaret gambling $ 800,000 from St. James Catholic School in Torrance Chang. And a half years, shes been driving her fellow Sisters to doctors appointments and things that! 79-Year-Old former nun pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 from St. Catholic! Scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, for last... In any ongoing investigation supervision when she is released, Kumar said fees and donations announce the of... Had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations driving her fellow Sisters to doctors appointments and things that! An audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy,! Uncovered a long-forgotten account into which Kreuper would divert checks made out to the School Carondelet... Like that scheme, Kreuper was the principal at St. James Catholic School in,. Were parents who spoke today about how their kids are no longer affiliated the. How their kids are no longer affiliated with the church Sister Mary said that she was going to all...

Scott Lafaro Car Accident, Articles S