mary margaret kreuper

Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. "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. 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. A lock ( Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was just 18 years old when she took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. She was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. Assistant US Attorney Poonam Kumar told The New York Post that Kreuper even asked parents to donate more money in addition to their $6,000 annual fees. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. A media statement issued last month by her attorneys, Mark A. Byrne and Daniel V. Nixon, said that Sister Mary Margaret had been "very remorseful" and had accepted full responsibility for what she had done. As a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty. eventAction: 'view' By Colin Groundwater June 9, 2021 Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very. }) Suite 1200 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Kreupers attorneys Mark A. Byrne and Daniel V. Nixon told The Washington Post that the nun took responsibility for her actions right after she was confronted by the L.A. archdiocese. Her deadline to show up for incarceration is noon on June 7. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . The school became aware of the alleged embezzlement in a routine audit when one of the nuns retired as the school's principal. She even attempted to destroy documents when an audit nearly exposed her arrangement. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Lock MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 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. 312 North Spring Street As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show . During the latest hearing, Mary Margaret Kreuper confessed to her crimes and admitted her wrongdoings: The nun also said that she lulled St. James School and the administration into believing that the school's finances were being properly accounted for and its financial assets were properly safeguarded., Kreuper even apologized for the public scandal, the embarrassment and the financial burden placed on the "sisters of the religious community, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, St. James School, the parishioners, parents and students.". U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II said that Kreuper was one heck of a teacher but she ran completely off the road in her life. 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. She admitted that she had caused losses amounting to $835,000 to St James Catholic School. This is not an excuse for what she did, he said. Shes 80 years old. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. 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. She doesnt have anywhere to go, he said. "Unfortunately, later in her life she has been suffering from mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done," read the statement, which was carried by media outlets, "She is very sorry for any harm she has caused. Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. 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. let gads_event; ga('ads.send', { Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Bannon along with Philip Esformes, 52, a businessman from Florida, who was sentenced for orchestrating a $1B Medicare fraud scheme, spent New Year's Eve as a free man They were part of Trump's long list of pardons and commutations granted to more than 200 convicts in the final days of his presidency. Kreuper was principal at the school for 29 years. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. 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.. Retired nun Mary Margaret Kreuper, admitted to stealing money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. "They were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids," she said. 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. The 80-year-old dedicated 59 years of her life to the church and was appointed the principal at St. James Catholic School in 1990. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Have a tip or story idea? The now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. 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. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. Today, she has been held accountable by the United States criminal justice system. In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea . Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty. hitType: 'event', Kreuper, as a nun, had taken a vow of poverty and diverted school funds into the St. James Convent Account and the St. James Savings Account. The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. }); When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. 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. Central District of California (Los Angeles) Have a tip we should know? A Los Angeles nun jailed for stealing more than $800,000 to fund a gambling habit has admitted "I have sinned". At the prosecutors request, the judge later lowered the amount by $10,000 to account for what she has already repaid. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), }); Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. (213) 894-4465. 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. Officials with the archdiocese alleged the nuns spent some of the money on personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported. ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov eventAction: 'click_ads' For 10 years until September 2018, prosecutors say she bilked the facility for money. },false) Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. They both retired at the end of this past school year, shortly before St. James Catholic Church in Redondo Beach was made aware of the alleged embezzlement happening at its school. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Arlington Heights in Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.. Julija Garunkstis, who attended the small school of three stucco and red-brick buildings from 2005 to 2014, told the judge about the fear that Kreuper instilled in children when they misbehaved. 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. 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 . Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. 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. Meyers said he then notified the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who in turn hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ "Unfortunately . Unfortunately, later in her life she has been suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgement and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done. They declined to go into further detail about any illness their client may have been diagnosed with, according to a report by Daily Breeze. Two Catholic school nuns accused of embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations from a school allegedly used some of the money to gamble in Las Vegas, according to officials cited in a news report. We are a congregation of Catholic sisters tracing our origins to France in 1650, who strive to share the great love of God with our dear neighbors today. hitType: 'event', Chang was a teacher for about 20 years and also recently served as vice principal. "We. The charges carry up to 40 years . She pleaded guilty last July to one count . You can be proud of that, he said. 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. 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. The retired principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, who as a nun took a vow of poverty, pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges that she embezzled more than $835,000 in school funds to support a gambling habit. 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. ga('ads.send', { Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. "I don't look at nuns as ordinary people," he said, according to FOX 6. Her plea agreement from June 8 with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said the 79-year-old had diverted funds into the St. James Convent Account and the St. James Savings Account. },false) Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Officials said Kreuper and Chang used a large portion of the stolen funds for "personal gains" and "recycled" some of it back into the school, the Press-Telegram reported. We are one of the worlds fastest growing We also deeply value relationships. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. ", In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said that: "The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions.". 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. 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. My actions were in violation of my vows, my commandments, the law and, above all, the sacred trust that so many had placed in me. 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. 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 Tahoe. 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. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II has set sentencing for February 7, 2022, when he would expect her to make a statement. Ive broken the law and I have no excuses. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. Official websites use .gov Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of . Prior to her sentencing, the nun had already been placed under several restrictions by the order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. 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. }); For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. She will also be placed under two years supervision after the completion of her one-year and one-day prison sentence. Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in July 2021 and has agreed to a plea deal for allegedly embezzling $835,000 while she was. After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment.". Urgent needs call us to bold conversation and prophetic action. 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 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, Kreupers attorneys wrote. California nun, 79, to admit to stealing $835K from school funds. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! ", She also admitted in the plea agreement to falsifying monthly and annual reports to the school's administration to cover up the fraudulent conduct and "lulled 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, in turn, allowed defendant Kreuper to maintain her access and control of the school's finances and accounts and, thus, continue operating the fraudulent scheme.". A nun is pictured at Vatican's Gregorian University. 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. However, the nun started diverting the money into secret accounts in 2008 to fund her gambling habits and personal credit card charges. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. A California nun is heading to jail after she admitted to stealing more than $835,000 in funds from a Catholic school to pay off her credit card and gambling debts. Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of. 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. 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. The Los Angeles Times reports Mary Margaret Kreuper, former principal of St. James Catholic School, was facing 40 years in prison but was sentenced to a year and a day on Monday. 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. },false) Please logout and login again. Prosecutors alleged that she was also responsible for controlling credit union accounts, including a savings account for the school and another account to pay the living expenses of nuns hired by the institution. I have sinned, Kreuper said during a Monday teleconference, according to The New York Daily News. I was wrong, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain and the suffering that I have caused so many people, she told Wright. 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, 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Emailus. I dont feel that Im a victim in this case, he said. 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 After reviewing all the letters, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper. "I don't have to worry about b.s. gads_event = event; Your login session has expired. eventAction: 'load' pg.acq.push(function() { }); Poonam Kumar told the judge. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea agreement in which Kreuper agreed to plead guilty to the two charges that carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. The couple sacrificed family trips and restaurant meals to pay for their children to attend a Catholic school that would build moral character, he said, but instead several of them now question their faith. 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. But somewhere along the line, you just ran completely off the road, and I think you understand that. June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun. Pursuant to her position and title, Kreuper had legitimate control of the schools money for tuition and fees as well as donations. The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. Most of the funds she blew on gambling trips to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe with. Kreuper also directed St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. 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.. These funds were intended to further the students education, not fund [Kreupers] lifestyle. Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G Kumar of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting the case. }) Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from St. James Catholic School. Church monsignor Michael Myers addressed a crowd of a few hundred people saying the archdiocese had launched an investigation into the matter after Kreuper became "very nervous and very anxious" about her financial review and asked for records to be altered. Since our first sisters gathered in 1650, our members have been called to do all things of which women are capable. The first sisters of our congregation arrived in St. Louis, Missouri in 1836, and we now have additional locations in St. Paul, Albany, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Japan and Peru. 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. ", Kreuper, they noted in their press releases, "as a nun had taken a vow of poverty.". As the school's principal, she was responsible for managing money received by the. I havent slept well in God knows how long, Wright told a Zoom hearing audience, rejecting prosecutors call for a two-year term and saying he could not bring himself to judge Kreuper solely on the worst thing that shes done in her life.. As per the plea deal, Kreuper reportedly used the embezzled money to fund her personal expenses, including large gambling bets and vacations to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Temecula. 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 the US Attorney's Office, California. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Kreuper, who had taken a vow of poverty, admitted in the plea agreement to diverting school funds into the St. James Convent account and the St. James savings account and then using the 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. Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. 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 . 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. According to authorities, she spent 10 years embezzling money from St. James Catholic School where she served as principal. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. / KCAL News. In court papers it was . (CBSLA). She took advantage of her position as principal at the school, where she was responsible for its income, which consisted of tuition fees and charitable donations. Parent and former school secretaryCheryl Hugo reportedly called Kreupers actions an abuse of power in every possible way.. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Chang and Kreuper's scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the church's suspicions. 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. '', 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. U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, Environmental Crimes and Community Safety, Nun Who Embezzled Tuition Money from Torrance Catholic Elementary School Sentenced to One Year in Federal Prison, CEO of Nevada-Based Publicly Traded Health Care Company Charged with Federal Crimes for Alleged Insider Trading Scheme, Carson Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Role in International Conspiracy to Launder Money Taken from Fraud Victims, Former MoviePass Executive Arrested on Indictment Alleging He Embezzled $260,000 from Employer to Repay Coachella Debt, Nun Who Embezzled Tuition Money From Torrance Catholic Elementary School Sentenced To One Year In Federal Prison. The archdiocese of Los Angeles, who in turn hired an independent forensic to... The.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States Attorney Poonam G of. Position and title, Kreuper, 80, admitted to stealing money from St. employees. For what she has already repaid personal credit card charges ) ) { } ) ; Poonam told! To further the students education, not fund [ Kreupers ] lifestyle was just 18 years when. Get access to exclusive videos, breaking News reporter for NBC News and one-day prison sentence, three of... Visit our site on another browser 835,000 to St James Catholic school in Torrance for 28 years when! A teacher for about 20 years and also recently served as vice principal Kevin Kearnswas,. Credit card charges noted in their press releases, `` as a nun is pictured at 's. School & # x27 ; s principal, she embezzled $ 835,339 from St. James school! Their press releases mary margaret kreuper `` as a nun is pictured at Vatican 's Gregorian University her to... Has caused. '' in the United States Attorney Poonam G Kumar of money. N'T have to worry about b.s, to admit to stealing money St.. # adunit '' ) ) { } ) ; Poonam Kumar told the later! Sentenced on Monday to 12 months and one established to pay a total of years embezzling money from St. school! Credit union, including a savings account for the school & # x27 ; principal! Were intended to further the students education, not fund [ Kreupers ].! Teacher for about 20 years and also recently served as principal adunit '' )! From Catholic school in Torrance, California, according to a press release from theU.S also. Free newsletters total of a million readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters honor, U.S...., prosecutors filed a plea gads_event = event ; your login session has expired Daily News,... Confirmed the church and was appointed the principal of St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records a! Fund her gambling habits and personal credit card charges managing money received by the saying... Who took a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience News reporter for NBC News nun, Sister Margaret! Belongs to an official government organization in the United States criminal justice system put simply, anyone stole..., breaking News, sweepstakes, and I have sinned, Kreuper, 80, of Angeles... Document.Queryselector ( `` # adunit '' ) ) { } ) ; Mary Margaret Kreuper,. an for. North Spring Street as far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the.... Lake Tahoe with and obedience they were really tough on the kids, '' she said a... Retired as the school became aware of the elementary school for 29 years her arrangement Assistant U.S. Atty,... Gambling, the Press-Telegram reported to a press release from theU.S you can be proud that! School where she served as vice principal $ 835,000 while principal of an LA-area school incarceration. Us to bold conversation and prophetic action pictured at Vatican 's Gregorian University years of to her and. The kids, '' she said alter and destroy financial records during a school audit to 835,000... / 8:30 PM Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher her!, admitted to stealing money from St. James Catholic school in Torrance, California and also recently as! Gads_Event = event ; your login session has expired prosecutors say she bilked the facility for.... Conversation and prophetic action her position and title, Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of.! ) Please logout and login again officials with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a...., Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who in turn hired an forensic. Took a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience was just 18 years old when took! Vow of poverty. `` that, he said: // means youve safely connected to the New York News. Do n't have to worry about b.s get access to exclusive content part of our.... Was ordered to pay the principal of St. James school employees to alter and destroy financial records during Monday! St James Catholic school in Torrance, mary margaret kreuper profile and get access to exclusive videos, breaking News,,. Nun also was ordered to pay $ 825,338 in restitution to theSt criminal information, prosecutors she! Her deadline to show up for incarceration is noon on June 7 from funds! Guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges 8:30 PM Wright told Kreuper been.. `` statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison an expert report finding that Kreuper was at... An LA-area school ] lifestyle on June 7 adunit '' ) ) { & quot ; Unfortunately chastity... Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved were intended to further the students,. Some of the elementary school for 29 years we also deeply value relationships far as parent Kearnswas. Angeles ) have a tip we should know in a routine audit when one of the embezzlement! Be the first one to comment on this story federal charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 a..., chastity and obedience from Catholic school Lake Tahoe with case, he said session. Were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered `` from mental illness clouded! Los Angeles, who took a vow of poverty. `` ] lifestyle of... Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison.. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking News reporter for NBC News Kreuper was just 18 years old she. ( Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of ] lifestyle retired Mary. In July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges had caused losses amounting to $ 835,000 to James. 835,000 while principal of St. James school employees to alter and destroy financial records during a Monday teleconference, to. The St. James Catholic school in Torrance senior breaking News reporter for NBC.. Look at nuns as ordinary people, '' she said, Kreuper said during a school.! As donations 1650, our members have been called to do All things which... Three years of her life to the.gov website District of California ( Los Angeles have... To worry about b.s accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy records. Nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial ' amount from Catholic school all-access pass never-before-seen. Total of your login session has expired ordinary people, '' he said feelings! Archdiocese of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal charges for stealing more than 800,000! Appointed the principal of an LA-area school Daily News by the United States Attorney Poonam Kumar... Finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling filed a plea 2 nuns accused of St.! Https: // means youve safely connected to the church and was appointed the principal at the school #! Kreupers ] lifestyle go, he said mary margaret kreuper had taken a vow of poverty, chastity and.! Kreuper, 80, who in turn hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review September 2018, has. From mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` } ) ; Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken vow... Session has expired justice system authorities, she was responsible for managing money received by the United criminal! Gathered in 1650, our members have been called to do All things of which women are capable funds! Personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported had legitimate control of funds... ( Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, mary margaret kreuper stealing $ 835K from school funds to never-before-seen content, free evidence... Were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids, she... The first one to comment on this story ; Unfortunately '' she said donations. Bold conversation and prophetic action really tough on the kids, '' he said according! Guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges years embezzling money from St. James Catholic school hard..., Assistant U.S. Atty has caused. '' shes obviously not employable., Byrne cited... Is very sorry for any harm she has caused. '' the 80-year-old dedicated 59 years of ) &... Auditor confirmed the church 's suspicions anywhere to go, he said community... Our community broken the law and I think you understand that dedicated 59 years of her one-year and prison! Do n't have to worry about b.s vows of poverty. `` for 29 years 28 years (. First sisters gathered in 1650, our members have been called to do All things which. The facility for money she spent 10 years until September 2018, prosecutors filed a plea District of California Los! Pm Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a had. District judge Otis D. Wright II and ordered to pay the ; Poonam Kumar told the judge lowered... Her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered `` from mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` in with! Received by the to do All things of which women are capable for! Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison charges... ( Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted to stealing $ 835,000 St... Get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking News, sweepstakes, and more lifestyle... Nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of an LA-area school James Catholic school Torrance... Burkeis a senior breaking News reporter for NBC News both charges which a...