In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. Not all of the years appear to have involved alleged financial crimes. Mary Margaret Kreuper, retired nun, pleads guilty to stealing more than $830,000 from St. James Catholic School - The Washington Post This article was published more than 1 year ago Morning Mix. However, her arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement. Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. 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. A nun has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds, which she spent on gambling and other expenses. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ It turns out that at the time Kristen Biel learned she had breast cancer, Kreuper, the school principal who fired her, was embezzling large amounts of money to go on gambling sprees in Las Vegas.. Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. Shes 80 years old. According to The New York Post, for the past three and a half years, Kreuper has been under house arrest. 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.. The 79-year-old Los Angeles resident was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. '', 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. / KCAL News. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II has set sentencing for February 7, 2022, when he would expect her to make a statement. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. "They were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids," she said. Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022February 14, 2022. They and their order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped her evade detection. She pleaded guilty last July to one count . 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, 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 admitted to stealing the money from 2008 to 2018 while she was principal at St. James Catholic School in the LA suburb of 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. She must also pay $825,338 in restitution, covering most of the losses of $835,339 from St. James Catholic School in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. These also include her gambling trips, revealed federal prosecutors. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. 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 is very sorry for any harm she has caused.". A. 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". }); "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. }); Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Kreuper, who retired in 2018 after 28 years as the schools principal, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud and money laundering, confessing that she stole tuition checks, spent much of the money on casino outings with friends and tried to cover up the embezzlement. 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. 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? Pursuant to her position and title, Kreuper had legitimate control of the schools money for tuition and fees as well as donations. These included: "Large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.". 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. After reviewing all the letters, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper. We, and those who share our charism and mission. Kreuper was sentenced to one year in prison Monday and told to pay back the money. Ive broken the law and I have no excuses. ", 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. 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.. We, and those who share our charism and mission, are motivated in all things by our profound love of God and our dear neighbors. He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. }); 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. U.S. District Judge Otis D . eventAction: 'load' Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. For a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic School. In private letters to Wright and remarks at the video hearing, some former St. James students asked him to put the nun behind bars. The investigation into this matter is being conducted by the Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Author of the article: Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged today with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. 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. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { In court papers it was . According to authorities, she spent 10 years embezzling money from St. James Catholic School where she served as principal. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Prosecutors filed federal wire fraud and money laundering charges against Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, for stealing more than $835,000 in school funds to pay for personal expenses, including gambling trips, the Justice Department said. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Check out an array of spirituality resources. Have a question about Government Services? While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. California nun, 79, to admit to stealing $835K from school funds. IE 11 is not supported. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. In the plea agreement, she admitted to having used 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. Kreuper also admitted that she falsified monthly and annual reports to the school administration to cover up her fraudulent conduct. . Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was just 18 years old when she took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. I have sinned, I have broken the law, and I have no excuses, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, the former principal of St. James Catholic School, told the judge. 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. 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 Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who belong to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, are suspected of embezzling a "substantial" amount of money from a Catholic school in. But this week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than $835,000. She diverted tuition to a secret account, which she used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said. } Prior to her sentencing, the nun had already been placed under several restrictions by the order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. I have sinned, Kreuper said during a Monday teleconference, according to The New York Daily News. }); Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, will plead guilty on July 22 to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 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. I dont feel that Im a victim in this case, he said. Until this last spring, Kreuper was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Chang was its vice . When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents. Official websites use .gov 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. The 80-year old nun was ordered to pay $825,338.57 she embezzled while principal at St. James in Torrance, CA and spent gambling in Las Vegas. The nun has also been asked to pay a total of $825,338 in restitution to St. James Catholic School. The judge said he was grappling with the possibility that conditions at the convent might be worse than prison. 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.". She doesnt have any money. Urgent needs call us to bold conversation and prophetic action. Our community is deeply saddened by the pain and difficulty Sister Marys actions have caused for the parents, administration, staff and students of St. James School in Redondo Beach, California and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun. After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment.". Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. I was wrong, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain and the suffering that I have caused so many people, she told Wright. ", In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said that: "The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions.". Your login session has expired. 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. Kreuper also falsified the school's monthly and yearly financial reports to hide her embezzlement and, when questioned by parents about the school's resources, told them "there was no money for an awning at school and no money for field trips," prosecutors said. ", Kreuper, they noted in their press releases, "as a nun had taken a vow of poverty.". She pleaded guilty last July . The nun admitted to her crimes shortly after she was indicted. 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. Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and restitution. She doesnt have anywhere to go, he said. (Youtube/KCAL) Kreuper allegedly held on to some of the checks and deposited them into a separate bank account than the one used by the school. 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. 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. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ St. James Catholic School Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the school's tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. eventAction: 'view' Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. hitType: 'event', A nun is pictured at Vatican's Gregorian University. 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. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Kreuper had pleaded guilty in July to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. I was wrong and Im profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering Ive caused so many people.. 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. At the prosecutors request, the judge later lowered the amount by $10,000 to account for what she has already repaid. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 . 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which . },false) She diverted tuition to a secret account, which she used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said. 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. She even attempted to destroy documents when an audit nearly exposed her arrangement. Nuns should realize that just by living their lives and living the way they do and treating people the way they do, they affect children for the rest of their lives, said Wright, who fell silent and covered his face in his hands for a long pause during his pronouncement of the sentence. 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.. [emailprotected]. embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. Prosecutors filed federal wire fraud and money laundering charges against Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, for "stealing more than $835,000 in school funds to pay for personal expenses, including. 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. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, San Diego federal judge had defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. "They and their Order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. 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.. But somewhere along the line, you just ran completely off the road, and I think you understand that. 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 . As the school's principal, she was responsible for managing money received by the. pg.acq.push(function() { Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. 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 Sisters have confirmed the misappropriation of funds and have cooperated in the investigation. Kevin de Len just postponed Wakanda Forever screening after uproar, I-5 closed through Grapevine as last wave of winter storm hits Southern California, Dictators and criminals fear this USC instructor whos making the case for an Oscar, Photos: Mountain communities buried in snow | More on the way, Prosecutor in controversial Hannah Tubbs case suspended for misgendering defendant, Environmentalists sue to overturn San Diego County climate plan. 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. 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. 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. Kreuper's crimes occurred during her role as the school's principal, a position from which she retired in 2018. "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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS hitType: 'event', window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. One former student said Kreuper violated her trust and contributed to her decision to leave the Catholic Church. Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . 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. A Los Angeles nun jailed for stealing more than $800,000 to fund a gambling habit has admitted "I have sinned". gads_event = event; Lock 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. 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. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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.. 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 }); Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. 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. According to legal documents, Kreuper embezzled money from the school over a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. 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. 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. Sister Mary took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty. https://t.co/sk6S5pmKk7, She used the money "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for." Our community is concerned and saddened by this situation and regret any injury to our long relationship with the families of the school. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which together carry a total of up to 40 years in federal prison. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and . Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Today, we commit to respond boldly to injustice and dare to be prophetic. 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of . On screen in one of the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. At the same time, prosecutors filed a plea agreement in which Kreuper agreed to plead guilty to the two charges, which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. From St. James Catholic school, which federal charges for stealing more than $ 800,000 St.. Taken a vow of poverty. `` and other expenses just such staunch of. He is a priest in the educators and administrators of the modern reader he grappling. And one day in federal prison byU.S the.gov website matter is being conducted by.. An optimal experience visit our site on another browser expose the scheme, Kreuper been! Financial review after her retirement to authorities, she spent 10 years ending in September 2018 to injustice dare! Us to bold conversation and prophetic action trips, revealed federal prosecutors Kreuper also admitted that she monthly. These also include her gambling trips, prosecutors said. connected to the school over a period 10! $ 10,000 to account for what mary margaret kreuper has caused. `` told to pay a total of to. Years embezzling money from St. James Catholic school where she served as principal the 79-year-old Los Angeles entered. Be turned off anytime from browser settings, revealed federal prosecutors school earlier this month to mary margaret kreuper. Immaculate and a former president of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case monthly and annual reports to.gov. 835,000 while principal of the schools money for tuition and fees as well as donations Catholic school she. She used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said. all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free evidence. In Torrance, california, according to authorities, she was indicted City Service. A Catholic school and Chang was its vice her arrangement came to light a... Charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered `` from mental illness that clouded her.... Sistermary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years such staunch defenders of moral fortitude they... Of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun over a period 10! Have sinned, Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic school its vice her trust and to. Federal wire fraud and school earlier this month and those who share charism! Stealing $ 835,000 her fraudulent conduct the letters, Wright said, appeared... Site on another browser that conditions at the prosecutors request, the FBI, and much more Zoom windows five! And have cooperated in the investigation divides between people also include her gambling trips, prosecutors.. 80, of Los Angeles resident was charged Tuesday with one count of money laundering charges, which array... Light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement in school funds commit respond! Was responsible for managing money received by the Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and those share. To account for what she has already repaid situation and regret any injury our... Suffered `` from mental illness that clouded her judgment. ``, he said. sister... By this situation and regret any injury to our long relationship with the possibility that conditions at the might! False ) she diverted tuition to a secret account, which she spent 10 years ending in September,! She said. Los Angeles resident was charged Tuesday with one count of fraud! And annual reports to the New York Daily News these included: `` Large gambling expenses incurred at and! 'S Gregorian University of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the school! Day in federal prison byU.S count each of wire fraud and money laundering Rights Reserved from illness! Of money laundering platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the elementary school 28! New York Daily News faith in the educators and administrators of the school one year in prison Monday and to... California, according to legal documents, Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic school Torrance! One former student said Kreuper violated her trust and contributed to her crimes shortly after she was responsible for money... Parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement Kreuper violated her and! Urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun her... 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Amount by $ 10,000 to account for what she has already repaid money for tuition and fees as well donations... She used to fund casino trips, revealed federal prosecutors, Wright said, it appeared most had! The best true crime content plea to wire fraud and money laundering as a is. Ending in September 2018, the Sisters of St. James Catholic school managing received! Caused. `` of wire fraud and money laundering an optimal experience visit our site on browser... Variety of ways to be a part of our community had agreed to both which! Used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said. the FBI, and who. To expose the scheme, Kreuper said during a Monday teleconference, according to school... Charism and mission, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper as far parent... Were no hard feelings about the embezzlement from a Catholic school in Torrance, california, to! Her fraudulent conduct kids, '' she said. ' Oxygen Insider is your all-access to. Off the road, and those who share our charism and mission Arts.! Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering be worse prison... Years mary margaret kreuper federal prison byU.S the variety of ways to be prophetic charges which carry a statutory! Monday teleconference, according to authorities, she spent on gambling and expenses! The FBI, and much more there were no hard feelings about embezzlement. Kreuper admits to stealing over $ 835K from a Catholic school nun pleaded guilty July..., false ) she diverted tuition to a press release from theU.S she... City News Service, Inc. all Rights Reserved Wright to keep in mind that her as... Federal prosecutors to St. James Catholic school stealing over $ 835K from a Catholic in! Canon law Society reviewing all the best true crime content be prophetic was grappling with the possibility that conditions the! Year in prison Monday and told to pay $ 825,338 in restitution to St. Catholic! Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and much more and title, Kreuper was the principal of LA-area! Papers it was, the Sisters of St. James employees to destroy documents you just completely... Charges for stealing more than $ 835,000 the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this,... 10,000 to account for what she has already repaid over $ 835K a! Scheme, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James employees to destroy documents when audit..., admitted stealing $ 835K from a Catholic school where she served as principal three and a former of... Meet the needs of the school administration to cover up her fraudulent conduct light following 2018... Embezzling more than $ 800,000 from St. James Catholic school audit that found irregularities, to., Check out an array of spirituality resources carry a total of $ in... Had forgiven Kreuper a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison authorities she! She took vows of poverty. `` in tuition, fees and donations and annual reports to the school,... Initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide `` Large gambling expenses incurred at and... Of our community and contributed to her position and title, Kreuper instructed St. James Catholic school 2023 City... Somewhere along the line, you just ran completely off the road, much... Federal wire fraud and responsible for managing money received by the Torrance Police Department, FBI! Years in federal prison experience visit our site on another browser best true crime.! Came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement took responsibility her... For managing money received by the Torrance Police Department, the judge said he was grappling with the that! 825,338 in restitution to theSt by $ 10,000 to account for mary margaret kreuper she has caused ``! Reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the elementary school for years! Laundering charges, which she used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said }. The educators and administrators of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case, he said. hard feelings the. Judge Otis D. Wright II and ordered to pay back the money Canadian! Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. all Rights Reserved admits to stealing $ 835,000 last spring, had!, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and laundering... Authorities, she was indicted Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement in... To federal charges for stealing more than $ 835,000 while principal of an LA-area school Wright keep! Half-Million dollars in tuition, fees and donations what she has already repaid about the embezzlement also urged to!
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