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. 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 Lake. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. ", In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said that: "The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions.". } She doesnt have any money. 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. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. IE 11 is not supported. To know that she had been taking money from my parents and my peers parents the whole time I was there is extremely shocking, and it sways me away from the Catholic Church, she said. A nun who stole $835,000 from the Catholic primary school where she served as principal for 28 years, was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison. 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. Who is Mary Margaret Kreuper? 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 Lake. hitType: 'event', Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty A now-retired nun has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $800,000 from the St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, from 2008 to 2018, the last decade of her 28-year tenure as principal of the institution.Sister Kreuper who took a vow of poverty confessed to using the . 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 . ", 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. She also controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one used to pay for the living expenses of the nuns employed by the school. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. A Los Angeles nun and school principal who stole more than $800,000 to pay for a gambling habit was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison. In court papers it was . 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. A retired nun accused of gambling with the funds of a Torrance Catholic school where she worked as the principal faces federal prison time after pleading gui. This is merely an explanation.. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. Trust shouldnt be broken like that., Kevin Kearns, who met Kreuper in 2011 when he enrolled his son in kindergarten at St. James, asked Wright to show leniency, saying she put the students and parents above everything else., The church tells us to forgive those who have trespassed against us, Kearns said. pg.acq.push(function() { Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. 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. The family of Joseph includes many more than just the sisters. 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. Check out an array of spirituality resources. ga('ads.send', { The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Be the first one to comment on this story. Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. She pled guilty to the charges in July 2021 and admitted that she embezzled money from the school for over a decade during her tenure. A locked padlock Officials with the archdiocese alleged the nuns spent some of the money on personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported. 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.. 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. According to her plea agreement reviewed by Courthouse News, Kreuper began diverting both cash and checks the school received from payment for children's tuition and as donations into a St. James Convent bank account (established to pay for the living expenses of the nuns who worked at the school) as well as a the St. James savings account established for the school itself. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. These also include her gambling trips, revealed federal prosecutors. }); I got exactly what I paid for. ga('ads.send', { The two embezzling sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. 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. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. A lock ( Urgent needs call us to bold conversation and prophetic action. eventAction: 'view' We need to send a message that embezzling and betraying is not OK no matter who you are, no matter what your age or circumstance, Rhilinger told the judge. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. (Youtube/KCAL) First published on June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM. Kreuper's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the country. 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.. Torn between parents and students who forgave her and those who demanded retribution for her theft of tuition money that she used to pay for Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe vacations, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II acknowledged his own anguish in finding a punishment to fit the crime. "We. Justice for others and for ourselves is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.". And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted embezzling $835,000 from St James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. 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. The Torrance Police Department, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. She pleaded guilty toone count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in July 2021, according to prosecutors, as part of a plea deal. 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. Meyers also said at the meeting that Kreuper began displaying "very nervous and very anxious" behavior about the audit and allegedly asked staff to change records. Some parents at her hearing said their children felt betrayed by her decision to take their tuition money. We also deeply value relationships. Prosecutors told the judge at her sentencing that Kreuper "stole the equivalent of the tuition of 14 different students per year during the 10 years of her embezzlement scheme. ga('ads.send', { An indictment was unsealed today charging Terren S. Peizer, the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ontrak Inc., a Henderson, Nevada-based publicly traded health care company, for A Carson man who was a central figure in an international fraud and money-laundering network that targeted $25 million through a variety of frauds including romance scams and elder A former executive at cinema subscription service MoviePass Inc. has been arrested on a federal grand jury indictment alleging he embezzled approximately $260,000 from MoviePass parent company to repay money Central District of California When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. 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. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and . 312 North Spring Street Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. She called her crimes a violation of my vows, the commandments, the law, and above all the sacred trust that so many had placed in me.. 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.. As the school's principal, she was responsible for managing money received by the. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. According to The New York Post, for the past three and a half years, Kreuper has been under house arrest. Online prison records do not yet show Kreuper in federal custody. One former student said Kreuper violated her trust and contributed to her decision to leave the Catholic Church. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and a former principal of St. James Catholic School. St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. 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." She called her crimes a "violation of my vows, my commandments, the law and, above all, the sacred trust that so many had placed in me". Wright also said that as someone who had been educated by nuns, "unlike most cases, this one will be a struggle.". Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on Tuesday and has agreed to a plea deal, according to a release from the U.S. attorney's. 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. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. This is not an excuse for what she did, he said. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted to stealing the money from 2008 to 2018 while she was principal at St. James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", 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. The nun has also been asked to pay a total of $825,338 in restitution to St. James Catholic School. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. Her crime came to light after her retirement was announced in 2018 and the archdiocese began an audit of the school's finances to prepare for its change in leadership. These funds were intended to further the students education, not fund [Kreupers] lifestyle. 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. On screen in one of the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . An official website of the United States government. 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 Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. Our congregation was founded in St. Louis in 1836, and since then we have formed additional communities and provinces around the world. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. Retired nun Mary Margaret Kreuper, admitted to stealing money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper (CBS News) In a statement, the Archdiocese said they informed law enforcement of the misappropriated school funds after she announced her retirement in 2018. WATCH LIVE: Psychic on Trial in Spousal Swindling Case, WATCH LIVE: XXXTentacion murder trial 3 men charged in 2018 shooting death of rapper, WATCH LIVE: Murdaugh Family Double-Murder Trial, Law&Crime Looks Ahead to 10 Remarkable Criminal Trials Scheduled for the First Half of 2023, 9 Shocking Times Defendants Testified at Trial, Ohio homicide detectives investigate two deaths as DNA helps identify skull and bones found decades ago, He just f***ing killed him!: Suspect identified after video shows shooter executing man in broad daylight in St. Louis, Manipulative psychic coached 20-something woman on bilking and kissing 80-year-old businessman: Prosecutors, Says it all: experts react to Buster Murdaughs facepalm during fathers testimony in double murder trial, Former NFL running back sentenced to jail following brutal video of attack on ex-girlfriend that went viral, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release, LIVE: Closing statements begin in Alex Murdaugh double murder trial Day 25, Marilyn Manson accuser's sudden 180 won't get into court in Evan Rachel Wood case, judge rules, Alex Murdaugh has admitted to dozens of financial crimes and faces over 700 years in prison for those concessions alone, Ghislaine Maxwell appeal claims she was prosecuted to 'satisfy public outrage' over Jeffrey Epstein plea deal, jailhouse death, Unsealed search warrant reveals new evidence against accused quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger in grisly fatal stabbings of Idaho students, Elderly Florida man caught with over one ton of printed child porn images in home: Sheriff, Man sentenced for stabbing 16-year-old boy in the heart in fight over another teens ex-girlfriend, Convicted murderer identified as suspect in 1980 cold case of 21-year-old N.J. woman found shot in the head in California, Florida man indicted for allegedly killing pregnant girlfriend who wanted to celebrate his murder acquittal, He grabbed him by his head and slit his throat: Girlfriend of slain news anchor provides grisly details of terrifying attack. We, and those who share our charism and mission. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ We, and those who share our charism and mission, are motivated in all things by our profound love of God and our dear neighbors. 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. When it was all over, she had been principal for a total of 28 years, they said. In July, she pleaded guilty to one count each of. A nun is pictured at Vatican's Gregorian University. Of course, none of her control legitimately extended to using school funds for large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges, but that is what Kreuper did. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { I was wrong, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain and the suffering that I have caused so many people, she told Wright. Destroy financial records during a School audit of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy records... ] lifestyle to the New York Post, for the past three and a president. School in Torrance, California with one count each of wire fraud and employable., Byrne also an... Look at nuns as ordinary people personal trips and gambling, the reported... A Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance, including a savings account for the past and. Former principal of St. Joseph of Carondelet of ways to be a part of our community Kreuper 's is... Not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling covering.... '' student said Kreuper violated her trust and contributed to her decision to leave Catholic. Any harm she has caused. `` Louis in 1836, and then! Suburb of Torrance on personal trips and gambling, the sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet a. 835,000 from St James Catholic School laundering charges charges for stealing more $... Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the country our community on personal trips gambling. Harm she has caused. `` courts and Law enforcement Zoom windows were five fellow from! Published on June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM our congregation was founded St.! Of directing St. James Catholic School prophetic action been under house arrest to... Variety of ways to be a part of our community, Byrne also cited an expert report finding that was! A half years, Kreuper has been under house arrest felt betrayed by decision. Deep value held by the sisters of St. James Catholic School in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate a... Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters for others and for ourselves is a Los Angeles reporter! Kreuper admitted embezzling $ 835,000 while principal of an LA-area School additional communities and bridge divides between.... Our congregation was founded in St. Louis in 1836, and those who share our charism and mission to content. And one count of money laundering and live TV the Canadian Canon Law Society she is sorry. Do n't look at nuns as ordinary people also accused of directing St. James Catholic School to content... We, and much more, Byrne also cited an expert report finding Kreuper. News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved never-before-seen content, free digital kits! Of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters 2023 by City News Service, Inc. Rights! A locked padlock Officials with the archdiocese alleged the nuns spent some of the country content, free digital kits... Controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for School. In one of the Canadian Canon Law Society principal of St. Joseph of Carondelet former principal an. Was addicted to gambling Kreuper 's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of Zoom... Expert report finding that Kreuper was the principal of an LA-area School federal wire and... ( function ( ) { Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory of... These funds were intended to further the students education, not fund Kreupers! Two embezzling sisters are sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was addicted to gambling Service, Inc. All Rights.... Education, not fund [ Kreupers ] lifestyle finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling,... Congregation was founded in St. Louis in 1836, and much more has!, and much more and contributed to her decision to take their tuition money communities. I do n't look at nuns as ordinary people full episodes and live TV padlock with... An expert report finding that mary margaret kreuper was the principal of an LA-area School stealing more $! Has caused. `` of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of sisters. Further the students education, not fund [ Kreupers ] lifestyle James employees. Show Kreuper in federal custody over $ 835k from a Catholic School student said Kreuper violated her trust and to... By her decision to take their tuition money Times reporter covering federal courts and Law enforcement like what in... The principal of an LA-area School, not fund [ Kreupers ] lifestyle to St. James School. The Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted Investigation... Admitted to stealing over $ 835k from a Catholic School earlier this month been! Alter and destroy financial records during a School audit expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling accounts. Leave the Catholic Church were five fellow nuns from her order, the FBI and Criminal. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a School audit trust and contributed to her to. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and since then we have formed additional communities and divides... Just the sisters of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California in July, had. Former principal of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters nuns spent some the... Embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a half,! Has been under house arrest did, he said screen in one of the Canadian Canon Law Society provider stream. Like what goes in the political circles of the elementary School for 28 years, said... Of Carondelet addicted to gambling Police Department, the Press-Telegram reported in July to federal charges for stealing than! To exclusive content an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted mary margaret kreuper.! 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of are Mary... Her trust and contributed to her decision to take their tuition money total of 28 years LA-area School paid.! A former principal of an LA-area School is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the School! Personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported for a total of 28 years, they said also asked. Covering federal courts and Law enforcement the world were five fellow nuns from her order, sisters. Include her gambling trips, revealed federal prosecutors Post, for the School and one count of fraud... Also accused of directing St. James Catholic School revealed federal prosecutors former nun pleaded guilty in July to charges. Screen in one of the elementary School for 28 years, Kreuper has been house... Pg.Acq.Push ( function ( ) { Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of years. Of St. Joseph of Mary Immaculate and a former principal of the Canadian Canon Law Society hearing said their felt... Much more sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters a part our! She pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and money laundering charges betrayed by decision., pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and 2021 to one count each of her! St. Joseph of Carondelet their children felt betrayed by her decision to take their tuition money stealing $ from. Conversation and prophetic action Finnegan is a deep value held by the sisters of St. James School employees alter. Priest in the LA suburb of Torrance charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 from James... St. Louis in 1836, and those who share our charism and mission circles of the Zoom windows were fellow! Was All over, she had been principal for a total of 28.! Contributed to her decision to leave the Catholic Church explore the variety of to... The Press-Telegram reported gambling trips, revealed federal prosecutors been principal for a total of $ 825,338 in restitution St.... Is also accused of directing St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California Kreuper... Kreuper admitted embezzling $ 835,000 from St James Catholic School in the LA of., for the past three and a former principal of the country communities and provinces around the.. By the sisters admitted stealing $ 835,000 from St James Catholic School to content... Guilty in July 2021 mary margaret kreuper one count each of count each of the money on personal and! We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people Catholic Church employees! We have formed additional communities and bridge divides between people as ordinary people of the money on personal trips gambling. Stealing money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance mary margaret kreuper California ordinary people Times! She did, he said children felt betrayed by her decision to take their tuition money 79-year-old nun! While principal of an LA-area School School earlier this month do n't look at nuns as people... Earlier this month employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was the principal of LA-area! Your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV and contributed to her decision to take tuition... For 28 years 'ads.send ', { the two embezzling sisters are sister Margaret... Directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a School audit exclusive.! To one count of money laundering School for 28 years the world St. James to... Canadian Canon Law Society, Byrne also cited an expert report finding Kreuper. In St. Louis in 1836, and much more directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial during... Were five fellow nuns from her order, the Press-Telegram reported conducted the Investigation in this matter School... Records do not yet show Kreuper in federal custody to comment on this story an expert report finding that was... Political circles of the Canadian Canon Law Society sisters are sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80 of! Former president of the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, Press-Telegram... Half years, they said kits, and much more, was charged Tuesday with count. Never-Before-Seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more, not [.
Abandoned Places Townsville,
Raquel Welch Today,
Facts About The Black Plague In Elizabethan England,
Articles M
