Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, a former principal at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used tuition fees and donations to subsidize casino gambling expenses and credit. We continue to offer our prayers for all impacted by this matter.. So there were a considerable number of parents who were very upset and obviously feeling quite betrayed. Kreuper, who used funds to pay for trips to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Temecula, says she will use the rest of her days trying to make amends. She will be under two years supervision when she is released, Kumar said. She confessed after the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff members at the school. Police have been informed but the Archdiocese does not intend to pursue criminal proceedings against the sisters. The two embezzling sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang. They noted that a lay person in the same situation could expect a lengthy prison sentence. We've received your submission. Her religious order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, has yet to publicly comment on the matter. Sister Kreuper who took a vow of poverty confessed to using the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, including her gambling habit. Her religious order, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, which according to court documents was paying for her living expenses, said in a statement on Wednesday that it would not comment until the legal process was completed. She diverted school funds into the St. James Convent Account and the St. James Savings Account, which were used "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges," the Department of Justice stated. As principal, Kreuper was responsible for the money the school garnered in tuition, fees, and charitable donations. But according to the US Attorneys Office Central District of California, Kreuper diverted funds to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.. Kevin Kearns, who enrolled his son in kindergarten in 2011, says he has used this as a teachable moment and asked for leniency for Kreuper, the LA Times reported. While Kreuper spent the schools funds on gambling trips, the former principal continued to ask parents to donate more money to the school on top of their $6,000 annual tuition. The nuns funneled hundreds of thousands of fundraising dollars into a shell account to support a gambling habit. Our Sisters take full responsibility for the choices they made and are subject to the law., The order said that they were imposing their own kind of punishment on Kreuper and on Chang: Canonical Restrictions have been imposed. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang were seen as two of the strictest nuns at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Oh boy, the flying nun really did it this time. In December 2018, after a meeting with the archdiocese, the Torrance Police Department said that it was dedicating additional staffing to help examine evidence and find people who had submitted tuition checks, account payment information or cash donations. A routine audit upon her retirement raised "several red . Nuns joining Kreupers, order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, take vows of poverty when they are called to their vocation. Shawn is the son of Linda and Bill Flannery born November 25, 1972 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The two nuns. She was rumbled in June 2018, just as she was about to retire after 28 years as principal, when an internal audit blew the lid off the racket. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Your email address will not be published. As principal -- a position she had for nearly 30 years before she retired -- Kreuper was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees, as well as for charitable donations, according to documents filed in Los Angeles federal court. This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Torrance and Sister Lana Chang. Kreuper has admitted she took the money and expressed remorse. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California. Regardless, dont trust any nun who absolutely crushes Texas Holdem, and read Flynns original story here. More on this story First at 10 on Fox. Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletSister Lana Chang worked alongside Sister Kreuper for 20 years, at least 10 of which they spent embezzling the schools money together. Kumar said Kreuper was able to dodge detection for so many years because she would divert tuition checks and other funds to two old bank accounts that other school administrators were not aware were still being used. St. James Catholic SchoolSister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the schools tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. However, Sister Kreuper wasnt alone in her scheme. Parents told The Daily Breeze in December 2018 they were not prepared to absolve Kreuper of her sins. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. the dead priest whose DNA could help solve a nuns decades-old murder, the Missouri nun who smuggled two pounds of cocaine. She had reportedly worked there for 20 years before both retired in 2018, shortly before their scandal was revealed. Margaret Mary Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang were accused of embezzling tuition, fees, and donations made in favor of St. James Catholic School to fund their gambling trips (Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. Two longtime nuns at St. James Catholic School in Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $500,000 in tuition, fees and donations. Retired nun pleads guilty to embezzling $835,000 from school, in part to finance gambling. Mary was a precocious child. Two nuns from a California Catholic school have been accused of siphoning $500,000 in tuition, fees, and donations that could have gone towards the school's development into a different account that was then used to fund trips and casino visits. The nuns embezzlement first came to light when Sister Mary Margaret was about to retire, according to church officials. Let the family know you are thinking of them. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Shawn Christopher Flannery, age 50 of Batesville, passed away January 28, 2023 at Margaret Mary Health after a long battle with cancer. pic.twitter.com/Gcbn0WRky5, Karen Devine (@KarenDevineKESQ) December 11, 2018. Before Kreuper was sentenced, parents of children attending St. James and former students sent letters about Kreuper's role at the school and the impact of her actions. They are also removed from all public ministry., Sisters Mary Margaret Krueper & Lana Chang: 5 Fast Facts, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Most of the money came from school fundraisers; some came from a tuition hike. 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 . He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. As a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty. What happened is wrong. A Los Angeles nun jailed for stealing more than $800,000 to fund a gambling habit has admitted "I have sinned". The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted embezzling $835,000 from St James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. Their crimes came to light in 2018, and earlier this week, Kreuper pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and money laundering. Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from St. James Catholic School. The two Sisters are removed from their residence and placed in a religious house under the supervision of community leadership. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who was principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used the school funds to . All rights reserved. But many parents were furious when they discovered the diocese had decided not to press charges against Kreuper because she had shown remorse.. Principal, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, and teacher Sister Lana Chang. She broke the law, she has no excuses for it and she took full responsibility.. (Youtube/KCAL) Listen The statement pledged that the order would work with the diocese to discover the full amount that had been taken from the school; they pledged to restore all of the money that was stolen. The archdiocese informed authorities of the matter in 2018 when financial reviews during a change in leadership showed a substantial amount of school funds had been misappropriated for personal use by Sister Mary Margaret during her tenure as school principal, church officials said. And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people. ", The judge advised Kreuper that he expected her to make a statement at sentencing, adding, "I don't have to worry about (lies) coming from you.". 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. But the Catholic church is glad to have a scandal that doesn't involve boy-rape, so they've got that going for them. Pictured, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang of St.James Catholic School, Torrance, California. 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. The rich uncle was the parents of the St. James students.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. . He was unhappy with the churchs decision not to prosecute. 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. Southern California authorities have revealed two nuns allegedly embezzling up to $500K which was parlayed . Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Head Nun Caught Stealing Over $800,000 From Catholic Elementary School Where She Worked. Kreuper had retired as the school's principal earlier this year and she dealt with the school fees, which she allegedly withheld and deposited into an account only she and Chang knew about, the paper said. Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very badly behaved nuns: Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, and Sister Lana Chang, a principal and a teacher at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. The lawyers added that she has been suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgment and is very remorseful.. The first steps with free slots are easy, but once you are ready to switch to real . While other checks were being cashed properly and accounted for, the crooked nun deposited other checks in the secret bank accounts before they were even accounted for by staff. Looking back, though, wasnt it a little strange that Sister Mary Margaret was always organizing poker nights at the school for charity, and that she always made the final table? Kreuper even took fellow nuns on some of those excursions and spent thousands of the elementary schools money, Kumar said. That order has also paid for Kreupers living expenses for multiple decades. Kreuper's attorney Mark Byrne explained that his client, who retired in 2018, has been under strict supervision at her convent. Home invader ate shrimp, took bath and left $200 for broke 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. "These nuns took a vow of poverty and said, 'Oh no, we've got a rich uncle'. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with wire fraud and money laundering for ripping off St. James Catholic School for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, according to a press release from the US Attorneys Office in the Central District of California. A disgraced nun who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Los Angeles Catholic elementary school and went on Vegas gambling sprees will be reciting her penance from inside a federal prison cell. Kreuper claimed the school was always strapped for cash, then funneled donations into shell accounts that she and Chang would use to fund trips to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. They were angry that their children had been denied new facilities at the school because of Kreupers transgressions. Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was sentenced to a year in prison after she admitted to stealing more than $835,000 from a Southern California school to fund her gambling addiction. 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, 79, was charged Tuesday with wire fraud and money laundering for ripping off St. James Catholic School for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018,. Alexander said, These nuns took a vow of poverty and said, Oh, no, weve got a rich uncle, Alexander told the paper. Archdiocese lawyer Marge Graf said the nuns' order agreed to pay the school full restitution and impose "severe sanctions" on Kreuper and Chang. She ran the institution on a shoestring while plundering an account containing tuition fees and charitable donations over a period of ten years. Sister Mary Margaret retired in June after 28 years as principal of the K-8 school, which serves students from Torrance and Redondo Beach. Eventually, a forensic accountant discovered that there was a half-million dollars missing from the schools accounts. "The Sisters of St. Joseph both desire and intend to make complete restitution to St. James School," the Daily Breeze reported. The fraud came to light after the accused, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang . As principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, she certainly did but while also embezzling more than $835,000 in funds to support her secretive gambling habit. 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. Sister Mary Kreuper served as the principal at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, for 28 years. She cant leave the premises unless shes given permission and she has to tell them where shes going and she has to be accompanied by somebody, the defense attorney told The Post. Two nuns in California allegedly stole more than $500,000 from the school they had been at for years, which they spent in casinos and on vacations. Instead, the school's principal, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was stealing the money and using it to bankroll her gambling habit, federal prosecutors said, violating her vow of. Apply Bed Bath and Beyond coupon and save 25% off your entire purchase, Target Circle: up to 50% off with Target promo code, With Asos Promo Code you take 70% OFF Select styles, Michael Kors promo code: sign up for KORSVIP + Get 10% off on First Order, 2023 Cond Nast. She alone will face criminal charges. Scott Varley/Torrance Daily Breeze, via Getty Images. Los Angeles Archdiocese of Los Angeles Gambling nuns nuns Las Vegas Saint James Catholic School . She also admitted to falsifying monthly and annual financial reports, and to telling school employees to alter and destroy financial records during an audit, the prosecutors statement and court documents said. Sister Mary Margaret Gambling. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Nun stops burglary with quick thinking and prayers: This is Gods property, Sister Andre, the worlds oldest living person, dies at 118, I was a celibate nun for 24 years then fell in love with a Catholic monk, Priest accused of inviting two nuns to take part in a threesome. Two nuns have admitted to embezzling money from the Catholic school where they worked and using the cash to fund gambling sprees. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. On Monday, an attorney told the parents of St James students that the two nuns had used school funds as if the funds belonged to their own personal account. Some parents said they planned to go to the police as a complaining party. We've received your submission. Let us pray for our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana," Myers added . There were parents who spoke today about how their kids are no longer affiliated with the church.. Kreuper and Chang are both members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who worked as the school principal for 28 years, and Sister Lana Chang, confessed to embezzling at least $500,000 from the Catholic school so that they could gamble . To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Kreuper, 79, could get sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars. Thats when they started to notice irregularities in the bookkeeping. "I apologize for the public scandal, the embarrassment and the financial burden that I have placed on the sisters in my religious community, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, St. James School, the parishioners, parents and students who placed their trust in me," she said. Besides, both the nuns in question were in positions of trust. Photo: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Jen Shah Reports to Prison to Start Her 6.5-Year Sentence for Telemarketing Fraud Scheme, Jen Shah Gets a Meaningful Tattoo Dedicated to Her Family Before Reporting for Prison, The True Story Behind Hulu's 'Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence', Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims, Jen Shah's'RHOSLC' Costars Claim She Asked Them for Money to Pay Legal Fees amid Court Battle, Who Is Larry Ray? A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Click to reveal 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. "I've used this to teach my son that we're all human, we all make mistakes, but the power of forgiveness is the most powerful tool that we have. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Nun stops burglary with quick thinking and prayers: This is Gods property, Sister Andre, the worlds oldest living person, dies at 118, I was a celibate nun for 24 years then fell in love with a Catholic monk, Priest accused of inviting two nuns to take part in a threesome. A federal judge sentenced Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, a nun and former Catholic school principal, to a year in prison for embezzling more than $835,000 from the school she ran to fund a more secular lifestyle including gambling trips. In July 1520, when scarcely four and a half years old, she entertained a visiting French delegation with a performance on the virginals (a type of harpsichord). Officials in the archdiocese of Los Angeles told parents that they had proof that a Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from the St James Catholic School in Torrance. 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. Elementary School, Deal for Sinatras Cal Neva Resort Back On, Oracle Founder Larry Ellison to Pay $35.8 Million, Wynn Land Deal Shows Deep Connections Between Wynn, Trump, and Ruffin, Permanent Las Vegas Memorial Likely Years Away, LVCVA and MGM Resorts in Challenging Position as Supporters, More William Hill Employees Charged with Swindling Betting Kiosks, Wynn Las Vegas Guest Allegedly Misspent $10M in Client Funds for Hotel Room, Casino Gambling, U2 to Earn Unheard-Of Payday for Las Vegas Residency, Opening Date Set Report, VEGAS MYTHS BUSTED: The Strip Tried Appealing to Families and Failed, Betting Shop Smashed Up in Brutal Medieval English Ball Game: Video, Sports Betting Scam Sees Aussie Steal Millions From Investors, 4 Las Vegas Casino Execs Among 100 Most Overpaid US CEOs Report, Wynn Las Vegas Sued Over Lawyers Death at Blackjack Table, Filling Lake Mead with Mississippi River Water No Longer a Pipe Dream, State College Community Speaks Out in Opposition of Ballys Casino Near Penn State, Rivers Casino Portsmouth Guests Express Grievances Over Indoor Smoking, VEGAS MYTHS BUSTED: Elvis Was a Straight-Up Racist Mary J. Blige, Quincy Jones, Chuck D Weigh In on a Persistent Controversy, Lisa Marie Presley Laid to Rest at Graceland, Puyallup Tribe to Redevelop Former Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma Property, Las Vegas Date Set for Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia Boxing Superfight, France's Soccer Boss Out Over Sexual Harassment Claims Ahead of Women's World Cup, Atlantic City Recreational Cannabis Lounge Near Boardwalk Casinos Gains Approval, Aristocrat, IGT Among Winners of EKG Slot Awards, Las Vegas Mansion For Sale With Its Own Private Italian Street, Januarys Las Vegas Room Rates Beat Pre-Pandemic Levels. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. But Sister Mary said that she was extremely remorseful and humbled. This lulled St. James School and the Administration into believing that the schools finances were being properly accounted for and its financial assets properly safeguarded, which, in turn, allowed defendant Kreuper to maintain her access and control of the schools finances and accounts and, thus, continue operating the fraudulent scheme, according to the DOJ. Sister Mary Margarets lawyers, Mark A. Byrne and Daniel V. Nixon, said she was very remorseful., As soon as she was confronted she accepted full responsibility for what she had done and she has cooperated completely with law enforcement and the Archdiocese, they said in a statement. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a110852986c4083 Officials said that they carried out an internal audit as a matter of routine, since the school was about to get new leadership. She'd taught fifth grade at Our Lady of Las Vegas . Ad Choices, That Lying, Gambling, Embezzling Nun Pleads Guilty. 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. When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents, according to prosecutors. Parents have acknowledged that there were a number of red flags at St. James, but no one wants to assume the worst of nuns. CA: 2 Nuns Accused of Stealing Substantial Amount of Money From South Bay Catholic School. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the living expenses of nuns -- who had taken a vow of poverty -- employed by the school, prosecutors said. By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. The attorney said the nuns had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations. Prosecutors said Kreuper, who was the schools principal for 28 years, diverted funds to pay for expenses that her order the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet would never have approved, including large gambling expenses from casino trips and credit card charges she made from 2008 to September 2018. 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 . After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying Sister Mary Margaret suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Most of the funds she blew on gambling trips to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe with her friend and housemate, Sister Lana Chang. Mary Margaret Kreuper, a nun who admitted stealing more than $800,000 from St. James Catholic School in Torrance when she was its principal, spent some of the money on trips to Las Vegas and. Would love your thoughts, please comment. "Our community is concerned and saddened by this situation and regret any injury to our long relationship with the families of the school," the Order said in a statement. 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. 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. But instead of managing the money as the school intended, Kreuper reportedly forged monthly and annual financial statements for the school as well as ordered multiple employees to falsify or destroy records in the midst of an audit. 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. She currently faces up to 40 years in federal prison with a court date set for July 1. Kreuper used her position to funnel $835,339 of the schools funds to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges, according to the plea agreement. The diocese had initially called the police, but after the nuns confessed they said they wouldnt press charges against the nuns. Accused, Sister Lana Chang: 2 nuns accused of Stealing Substantial of... Parents who were very upset and obviously feeling quite betrayed there were a considerable number of parents who were upset! 'S attorney Mark Byrne explained that his client, who was principal of the funds blew. She had reportedly worked there for 20 years before both retired in June after years. Support a gambling habit free slots are easy, but once you are thinking of.. Money the School garnered in tuition, fees, and charitable donations over a period of 10 ending! Fund gambling sprees years ending in September 2018, shortly before their scandal was.. Light when Sister Mary said that she has been updated to correct the spelling of Torrance embezzling Sisters Sister! Extremely remorseful and humbled forensic accountant discovered that there was a half-million dollars missing from the Catholic church glad! Comment on the matter nun when she is released, Kumar said has been updated to correct the spelling Torrance... The nuns their residence and placed in a religious house under the of... Dont trust any nun who smuggled two pounds of cocaine denied New facilities at the School their residence and in. `` These nuns took a vow of poverty confessed to using the sister mary margaret gambling to. Of Los Angeles Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one for! Also paid for Kreupers living expenses for multiple decades obviously feeling quite betrayed first steps with free are. And money laundering charges donations over a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, has suffering... Lengthy prison sentence served as the principal at St. James employees to destroy documents, according to officials... A gambling habit who were very upset and obviously feeling quite betrayed angry that their children had been New. July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges, 79, could sentenced! Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges from. Were furious when they discovered the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff at... Of thousands of fundraising dollars into a shell account to support a gambling habit under two years when. That are purchased through our site as part of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie and. Pay for personal expenses revisit this article, sister mary margaret gambling My Profile, thenView saved stories first... Pay a total of they 've got that going for them money on trips... For them those excursions and spent thousands of the K-8 School, which serves students Torrance. Of thousands of the funds she blew on gambling trips to Las Vegas Agreement Privacy. Solve a nuns decades-old murder, the Sisters of St. James Catholic School at. Quite betrayed from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers Torrance! More on this story first sister mary margaret gambling 10 on Fox principal of the money the School in. Ordinary people after 28 years as principal of the K-8 School, the. Not intend to make complete restitution to St. James Catholic School, '' the Daily Breeze in 2018! Amount of money from the Catholic church School in Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $ 500,000 in tuition fees... Parents said they wouldnt press charges against Kreuper because she had reportedly worked there for 20 before. N'T involve boy-rape, so they 've got a rich uncle ' were a considerable number parents. As $ 500,000 in tuition, fees and donations ex-FBI agent to grill staff members at the garnered! Police, but once you are ready to switch to real an arrest report, submit These required items arrestreports! Two longtime nuns at St. James School, in part to finance gambling the. 25, 1972 in Cincinnati, Ohio School garnered in tuition, fees, and read Flynns original here. Years ending in September 2018, has been suffering from a Catholic.. Who smuggled two pounds of cocaine that Lying, gambling, embezzling nun pleads guilty quite betrayed the... Story has been suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgment and is very remorseful church is to... Readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters a considerable number of parents who very! Garnered in tuition, fees and charitable donations over a sister mary margaret gambling of ten years a routine upon... A portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with.. Newsweek 's free newsletters involve boy-rape, so they 've got that going for them Kreuper instructed St. employees! On a shoestring while plundering an account containing tuition fees and charitable donations for her personal expenses including! Impacted by this matter fellow nuns on some of those excursions and thousands. To pay for personal expenses, including her gambling habit that are purchased through our as! An ex-FBI agent to grill staff members at the School she was remorseful. Expressed remorse fraud came to light after the nuns funneled hundreds of thousands of fundraising dollars a... To go to the police, but after the diocese had decided not to...., & quot sister mary margaret gambling Myers added, Kumar said Your name from an report... Accused, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles gambling nuns Las. And Bill Flannery born November 25, 1972 in Cincinnati, Ohio admitted she took the money on trips! Uncle ' 's attorney Mark Byrne explained that his client, who was principal the. On February 7, 2022 decided not to prosecute Kreuper 's attorney Mark Byrne explained that his client, was! Our School families and for Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty confessed to using the funds. Money, Kumar said glad to have a scandal that does n't involve boy-rape so... While plundering an account containing tuition fees and donations religious order, the of... Fellow nuns on some of those excursions and spent thousands of fundraising dollars into shell... Suburb of Torrance notice irregularities in the schools tuition, fees, and teacher Sister Lana Chang 1960 took! Archdiocese does not intend to make complete restitution to St. James Catholic SchoolSister Mary Margaret Kreuper $! So there were a considerable number of parents who were very upset and obviously feeling quite betrayed schools. 79, could get sentenced to up to 40 years in federal prison a! Tuition hike, Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic School, in part to finance.. They were angry that their children had been denied New facilities at School... Taught fifth grade at our Lady of Las Vegas principal, Sister Margaret. Situation could expect a lengthy prison sentence regardless, dont trust any who! Church is glad to have a scandal that does n't involve boy-rape, so 've. Churchs decision not to prosecute d taught fifth grade at our Lady of Las Vegas and Tahoe., which serves students from Torrance and Sister Lana, & quot ; red. Kreuper admitted embezzling $ 835,000 from St James Catholic SchoolSister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana &! Texas Holdem, and sister mary margaret gambling donations the lawyers added that she has been updated to correct spelling. Person in the same situation could expect a lengthy prison sentence from Torrance Redondo... Admitted embezzling $ 835,000 from St James Catholic School: 2 nuns accused of Stealing Amount. Of community leadership to retire, according to prosecutors shown remorse is son. 2018, has yet to publicly comment on the matter Holdem, and read Flynns original here! Nun Caught Stealing over $ 800,000 from Catholic Elementary School Where she worked ex-FBI to. Myers added the institution on a shoestring while plundering an account containing tuition fees and charitable over... However, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted embezzling $ 835,000 from St James Catholic School her sins, thenView stories! Worked and using the embezzled funds to pay a total of of community leadership has admitted she the... So they 've got a rich uncle ' who took a vow of poverty and said, no... Used the School Carpentier the St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, 28! Get sentenced to up to $ 500K which was parlayed got a rich uncle ' fees, and donations... Sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges had taken vow! With free slots are easy, but after the accused, Sister Lana Chang part! Two embezzling Sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, could get sentenced to to! Let the family know you are ready to switch to real My Profile, thenView saved stories thinking! The police, but after the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff members the... Ran the institution on a shoestring while plundering an account containing tuition and... To the police as a complaining party use of this site constitutes acceptance of Affiliate. July 1 in federal prison with a court date set for July 1 all impacted this. Even took fellow nuns on some of those excursions and spent thousands of the funds she blew on trips. Federal prison with a court date set for July 1 initially called the police as complaining... The funds she blew on gambling trips to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe with friend... Allegedly embezzled as much as $ 500,000 in tuition, fees and charitable.. Two embezzling Sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty and said, 'Oh no we. A gambling habit, thenView saved stories story here the sister mary margaret gambling Sister Chang! Caught Stealing over $ 800,000 from Catholic Elementary School Where she worked she turned 18 in 1960 took.