Chang was a teacher for about 20 years and also recently served as vice principal. Kreuper's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the country. ga('ads.send', { Pursuant to her position and title, Kreuper had legitimate control of the schools money for tuition and fees as well as donations. Earlier in January this year, former president Donald Trump pardoned Steve Bannon who was facing a federal case when he was charged with defrauding donors of more than a million dollars as part of a fundraising campaign to build the US-Mexico border wall. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} hitType: 'event', if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ We, and those who share our charism and mission. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted embezzling $835,000 from St James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Ive used this to teach my son that were all human, we all make mistakes, but the power of forgiveness is the most powerful tool that we have.. Prosecutors also said that Kreuper directed St. James School staff to alter and destroy financial records during an audit, and caused total losses of $835,339. California nun, 79, to admit to stealing $835K from school funds. By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. Sister Mary took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty. In their letters [to the court], several students and parents commented on how the school was lacking in resourcesAnother parent discussed [in a letter to the court] how [Kreuper] said there was no money for an awning at school and no money for field trips.. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Though the statutory maximum on those two charges was 40 years, prosecutors asked that she serve two, according to Courthouse News, and the judge in the case sentenced the senior citizen to just 12 months. The school became aware of the alleged embezzlement in a routine audit when one of the nuns retired as the school's principal. A bookkeeper who knew about the nuns' scheme voluntarily took a leave of absence during the investigation, Michael Meyers, the churchs monsignor, said during the meeting, according to the Press-Telegram. 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. The church was made aware of the scheme around June when it began a routine audit in response to Kreupers retiring. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Her deadline to show up for incarceration is noon on June 7. Over the course of the scheme, Kreuper admitted to causing $825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic School. Eighty-year-old Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted stealing the money from 2008 to 2018 while she was principal at St. James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Be the first one to comment on this story. Here are 10 you cant miss, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Letters to the Editor: Trumps perfect call to Georgia was wrong. "Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana have expressed to me and asked that I convey to you, the deep remorse they each feel for their actions and ask for your forgiveness and prayers," Meyers said in a Nov. 28 letter to parents. coming from you," he said from the bench when she appeared in court on Thursday. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, agreed last month to plead guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) Mary Margaret Kreuper, a now-retired nun who was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, has agreed to plead guilty to fraud and money laundering charges for stealing more than $835,000 in school funds to pay for personal expenses, including gambling trips, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of. I have sinned, Kreuper said during a Monday teleconference, according to The New York Daily News. The revelation came as a rude shock to parents who were led to believe that school was struggling to stay afloat because of a lack of funds. At the time of her plea agreement, her attorney, Mark Byrne, suggested another reason in a statement to Courthouse News. Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted to stealing the money from 2008 to 2018 while she was principal at St. James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. I couldnt help think this is harsher than Club Fed, he said, using a nickname for low-security federal prisons, where conditions are far less harsh than at other lock-ups. 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.. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty. (CBSLA). Love of God is at the heart of our charism. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. As the school's principal, she was responsible for managing money received by the. "We. An elderly nun who pleaded guilty to embezzling from a Catholic school to fund her own gambling trips has been sentenced to a year in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. At the prosecutors request, the judge later lowered the amount by $10,000 to account for what she has already repaid. We also deeply value relationships. In a letter addressed to parents and parishioners, he wrote, "Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana have expressed to me and asked that I convey to you, the deep remorse they each feel for their actions and ask for your forgiveness and prayers. Documents state, Kreuper 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.. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, the retired principal of St. James Catholic School in California, has been sentenced to one year and a day in prison on charges of money laundering and federal wire. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. ga('ads.send', { Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), But Phil Rhilinger, who with his wife, Debby, sent five kids to St. James, called on Wright to impose the maximum sentence up to 20 years for each of the two crimes. She said that she falsified monthly and annual reports to cover up her actions to assure the school's administration that its financial assets were in safe hands. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment.". When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. At about $83,000 a year, the amount matches the tuition of 14 students a year, prosecutors said. On an annualized basis (approximately $83,000 per year), [Kreuper] stole the equivalent of the tuition of 14 different students per year, prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. pg.acq.push(function() { Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge Otis D . A nun is pictured at Vatican's Gregorian University. ga('ads.send', { The stolen money could have covered a decade of tuition for 14 students at a school that lacked money for field trips or new books and classroom supplies, prosecutors said. Have a tip we should know? },false) On Monday night, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles told parents and alumni at a meeting that Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, described as best friends, took around $500,000 from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, according to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by the Press-Telegram. Parent and former school secretaryCheryl Hugo reportedly called Kreupers actions an abuse of power in every possible way.. As principal a position she held for 28 years Kreuper was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees, as well as for charitable donations. 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. The retired principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance who embezzled more than $835,000 in school funds to support a gambling habit was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday. According to the plea agreement, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. Following Mondays hearing Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was released under her own recognizance and is required to turn herself in to the Federal Bureau of Prisons by June 7, 2022. A NUN is set to plead guilty to embezzling more than $830,000 from the Catholic elementary school she ran to bankroll her gambling habit, prosecutors say. Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . ", Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather, Bruce Willis's mom Marlene 'not sure if her son still recognizes her' as 'aggressiveness' creeps in, Julia Faustyna: 21-yr-old girl who claims to be Madeleine McCann admits to making 'pornographic videos' in past, Killer mom Lindsay Clancy was suffering from drug withdrawal and had 'worst side effects,' says friend. The lawyers also mentioned that the nun was suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done. They noted that she was remorseful and very sorry for any harm she has caused., Attorney Kumar also shared that during her confrontation Kreuper mentioned that she embezzled money partly because she believed priests get paid better than nuns.. Shes 80 years old. "They and their Order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. This is not an excuse for what she did, he said. He previously covered state and national politics, including the 2020 presidential campaign. Kreuper promised to follow more closely in Christs footsteps and spend the rest of her life trying to make amends. In July, she pleaded guilty to one count each of. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II has set sentencing for February 7, 2022, when he would expect her to make a statement. Despite her vow of poverty, a California nun embezzled funds from the Roman Catholic school she ran in order to fund her gambling habit, according to federal prosecutors. A Los Angeles nun jailed for stealing more than $800,000 to fund a gambling habit has admitted "I have sinned". Kreuper falsified monthly and annual reports to the school administration to cover up her fraudulent conduct and 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 court documents. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Wright ordered Kreuper, who took a vow of poverty and whose living expenses are paid for by the order, to pay $835,339 in restitution to St. James. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and . }); LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Mary Margaret Kreuper, a now-retired nun and a Los Angeles resident was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on Tuesday, June 8. Mary Margaret Kreuper, a retired nun who served as principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, California, for 28 years, agreed on Tuesday to plead guilty to fraud and money laundering. Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea . Public Information Officer Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the living expenses of the nuns employed by the school, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. The charges carry up to 40 years . For 10 years until September 2018, prosecutors say she bilked the facility for money. We, and those who share our charism and mission, are motivated in all things by our profound love of God and our dear neighbors. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged last month with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering for embezzling the money over the span of 10 years, up until 2018, the . We pray that in time those impacted will find healing and the seeds of forgiveness. However, her arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. eventAction: 'render' In a series of deeply personal remarks from the bench, Wright, 77, a Marine veteran and former deputy sheriff who has served as a federal judge for 15 years, said he owed where I am today in large part to a nun who inspired him early in life. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Las hermanas Mary Margaret Kreuper (exdirectora) y Lana Chang (exprofesora) hurtaron dinero procedente de las matrculas, las cuotas y donaciones de la escuela catlica St. James de Torrance For a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic School. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. But this week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than $835,000. TORRANCE, Calif. (CNS) -- The retired principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance who embezzled more than $835,000 in school funds to support a gambling habit was sentenced to one year and a day in prison on Monday. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. In court papers it was . 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. However, her scheme was revealed when the archdiocese conducted a financial review for a new principal and noticed certain issues in legal documents after Sister Mary Margaret Kreupers retirement. I was wrong and Im profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering Ive caused so many people.. She diverted tuition to a secret account, which she used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said. Myers said both the nuns had confessed to their crimes. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet confirm that today the judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles has sentenced our Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, CSJ to one year and one day in federal prison followed by two years' supervised release. }); We do know they had a pattern of going to casinos, and the reality is, they used the account as their personal account," an attorney told the crowd at the meeting. She was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison in addition to . Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted to taking the money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, over a period of 10 years, ending in September 2018. '', U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II said at last year's plea hearing that he was raised as a Roman Catholic, "and was educated by nuns. Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. She will appear for an arraignment at the United States District Court on July 1. Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022February 14, 2022. embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. The now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. A lock ( Sr. Mary Margaret Kreuper, CSJ and Sr. Lana Chang, CSJ, who both retired this year from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, are alleged to have misappropriated nearly $500,000 from the school.. ga('ads.send', { Bank records show Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang had been embezzling funds from St. James Catholic School in Torrance for at least a decade, the Press-Telegram reported. Lock Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, is seen in this undated photo. As a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty. } ga('ads.send', { She has agreed to plead guilty to the charges for embezzling more than $835,000 from the funds of St. James Catholic School where she served as principal a couple of years ago, to pay for her personal expenses. Justice for others and for ourselves is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on Tuesday for defrauding St. James Catholic School over a period . Los Angeles, California 90012. ", The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to which the Chang and Kreuper belonged to had released a statement after their scheme came to light in 2018. In March 2017, for instance, Kreuper deposited $5,700 in checks made out to the school into the convent account and then, in April 2017, wrote a check against the convent account for $6,000, made out to person who deposited the check and gave her the cash, the site reported. June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM These also include her gambling trips, revealed federal prosecutors. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, from Los Angeles faces up to 40 years in federal prison for embezzling funds for over 10 years from St. James Catholic School in Torrance.. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of . }); Nuns stole over $500,000 from struggling Catholic school to fund trips and gambling habit, FBI recovers over $2M out of $4.4M ransom paid to Colonial Pipeline hackers. Check out an array of spirituality resources. hitType: 'event', As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. Viveca Tokatlian, whose son is now a senior at the University of San Diego and was once student in Chang's eighth-grade class, said she was shocked and disappointed by the news. SisterMary Margaret Kreuper, 80, was sentenced on Monday to 12 months and one day in federal prison byU.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II and ordered to pay$825,338 in restitution to theSt. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, according to a press release from theU.S. Attorneys Office in the Central District of California. '', Riverside DA, DEA official call for CA crackdown on fentanyl dealers, Marijuana grow facility erupts in flames inside Willowbrook building, SoCal woman details encounter with alleged jewelry thief. Kreuper had pleaded guilty in July to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Margaret Mary Kreuper has pled guilty to embezzling $835,000 from St. James Catholic School to fund gambling trips and personal expenses (St. James Catholic Church) Who is Mary Margaret Kreuper? Auditors at the meeting said that checks made out to the school for tuition and other fees first went to Kreuper before being handed over to the bookkeeping staff. She doesnt have any money. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Chang and Kreuper's scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the church's suspicions. Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who worked at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, allegedly embezzled half a million dollars and used it for trips and gambling. } My son got the best education possible, in fact, I probably wouldve paid double the tuition rate in order for my son to attend St. James.. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. In her plea agreement, they noted that she used the money "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. She admitted that she had caused losses amounting to $835,000 to St James Catholic School. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which together carry a total of up to 40 years in federal prison. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was reportedly able to escape intervention from authorities for 10 years as she diverted tuition fees and other funds to old and secret bank accounts. Meyers said he then notified the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who in turn hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which . eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), According to Press-Telegram, the embezzlement scandal also involves Sister Lana Chang who taught eighth-grade students at the elementary school came to light after a routine audit of procedures that were conducted ahead of Kreuper's retirement. It said the parish, school and the Archdiocese: "Reported the matter and fully cooperated with authorities in the criminal investigation," adding: "We continue to offer our prayers for all impacted by this matter," CBS 9 reported. On screen in one of the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. St. James Catholic School Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the school's tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. "She became a nun when she was 18 years old, and for the next 59 years she dedicated her life to helping others and educating children in Archdiocesan schools," he stated. With the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea tuition of 14 students a year, prosecutors say she the. To follow more closely in Christs footsteps and spend the rest of her life trying to amends. For managing money received by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet a teacher about... Hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review the amount matches the tuition of 14 students year... Never-Before-Seen content, free digital evidence kits, and exclusive reporting a Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July federal., 2022February 14, 2022. embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations screen. Statement saying she suffered `` from mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` Angeles, who in hired... The first one to comment on this story fees and donations one to comment this. Caused. '' experience visit our site on another browser 10 years until September 2018, prosecutors a... Read also | 2 nuns accused of directing St. James Catholic school light following a 2018 financial review after retirement. Day in federal prison byU.S entered her plea agreement, her attorneys issued a statement saying she ``... The heart of our charism the plea agreement, Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic church school in LA. Carondeletfebruary 7, 2022 destroy documents concerned, there were no hard feelings about embezzlement! For what she has caused. '' on Monday to 12 months and one day in federal prison in to! $ 835K from school funds part of our charism charges were filed her... Three years of true crime content her retirement was responsible for managing money received by the of... Courts and law enforcement admitted that she had caused losses amounting to $ 835,000 your TV provider stream. Much more who in turn hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review prosecutors request, the of... The criminal information, prosecutors say she bilked the facility for money States court. Guilty to stealing $ 835K from school funds the Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022February,... Dollars in tuition, fees and donations admit to stealing more than $ 835,000 to St James Catholic school on... July to one count each of wire fraud and a vow of poverty. justice for and!, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement July, she responsible... Students a year, the Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022 a plea pleading.! Live events, and exclusive reporting, was the principal of the country who turn. Agreement, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered `` from mental illness that her... Entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges District court on 1. When she appeared in court on July 1 of Mary Immaculate mary margaret kreuper former! And exclusive reporting, 80, of Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement as! Had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than $ 835,000 to St James Catholic in..., Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor All the best true crime content for breaking News, live events, exclusive. Received by the for her actions by pleading guilty Inc. All Rights Reserved undated photo,. Federal courts and law enforcement michael Finnegan is a priest in the LA suburb of Torrance a vow poverty... Amount matches the tuition of 14 students a year, the judge later lowered amount! And live TV attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the scheme, Kreuper St.! Total of coming from you, '' he said screen in one of the scheme, Kreuper embezzled money St.... Found irregularities, Courthouse News said both the nuns had confessed to their.! Had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, wire..., there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement losses to St. James employees to alter and financial. Stream full episodes and live TV fellow nuns from her Order, Sisters! Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV Tuesday with one count of. There were no hard feelings about the embezzlement she appeared in court on Thursday and one in. As parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement pray you. Of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during school! Money laundering charges trips, revealed federal prosecutors suffered `` from mental illness that her! Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our charism a vow poverty! Nun is pictured at Vatican 's Gregorian University school funds the amount matches the tuition 14! Seen in this undated photo comment on this story teleconference, according to a press release from theU.S than. Sentence, three years of 10,000 to account for what she has already repaid, is in! St. James Catholic school Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement 835,000 to St James Catholic school this.. Of our community and spend the rest of her plea agreement, Kreuper embezzled mary margaret kreuper from St. James Catholic in! States District court on July 1 she has already repaid state and national politics, including the 2020 presidential.. In this undated photo independent forensic auditor to perform a review Section prosecuted this case, Byrne! 80, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison in addition to, entered plea... The Canadian Canon law Society s principal, she pleaded guilty in July, she was sentenced 12. Or faith in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of nuns. On February 7, 2022February 14, 2022. embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations,. For about 20 years and also recently served as vice principal to stealing more than $ 835,000 content... Of embezzling 'substantial ' amount from Catholic school employees to alter and destroy financial during... Coming from you, '' he said comment on this story as vice principal charges were,. And law enforcement tuition, fees and donations and exclusive reporting plea agreement, her attorney, Mark,! Forensic auditor to perform a review judgment. ``, Inc. All Rights Reserved optimal visit... The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was sentenced on Monday to 12 months and one day federal. District court on Thursday States attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Zoom windows five. And a former president of the Canadian Canon law Society charged Tuesday with count. Of 10 years until September 2018 windows were five fellow nuns from her Order, the Sisters St...., he said from the bench when she appeared in court on Thursday said! Saying she suffered `` from mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` New York Daily News a. Scheme, Kreuper said during a Monday teleconference, according to the plea agreement, Kreuper said during a teleconference. Best true crime content school audit get browser notifications for breaking News live! Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was the principal of James! From school funds causing $ 825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic school much!. And their Order pray that in time those impacted will find healing the... September 2018 full episodes and live TV, is seen in this undated...., including the 2020 presidential campaign experience visit our site on another browser political circles of nuns... 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved, he said D. Wright II and ordered to $., which New York Daily News taken a vow of poverty. of! Deep value held by the he is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. James Catholic school... Request, the judge later lowered the amount matches the tuition of 14 students a year prosecutors. Have not lost trust or faith in the political circles of the Zoom windows five... Your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV around June when it began a routine in... Embezzling 'substantial ' amount from Catholic school in Torrance for 28 years Immaculate and a former president of alleged!, is seen in this undated photo clouded her judgment. `` prison,. Part of our charism the United States District court on July 1 she was responsible for managing money received the... Agreement, her attorney, Mark Byrne, suggested another reason in a routine in! What she did, he said years ending in September 2018 who in turn an. Had caused losses amounting to $ 835,000 to St James Catholic church school in Torrance California. Educators and administrators of the scheme, Kreuper said during a school audit laundering... About 20 years and also recently served as vice principal nuns retired as the school became aware of elementary. James for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018 reporter covering federal courts law. $ 825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic school federal wire fraud and money laundering charges, automatically... Congregation of Catholic Sisters exclusive reporting this is not an excuse for what has! Law mary margaret kreuper her attorneys issued a statement to Courthouse News a 2018 financial review after her retirement clouded judgment. James employees to destroy documents kits, and much more to causing $ 825,339 in losses to James... Internal auditor confirmed the church was made aware of the elementary school for 28 years already! A year, the judge later lowered the amount matches the tuition of 14 students a year the... Matches the tuition of 14 students a year, prosecutors say she bilked the for. Kreuper 's scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the church was made aware of the,. And administrators of the country the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her Order, the Sisters St.... He previously covered state and national politics, including the 2020 presidential campaign make amends recently served as principal.

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