The 80-year old nun was ordered to pay $825,338.57 she embezzled while principal at St.. Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesSister Mary Kreuper served as the principal at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, for 28 years. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Nun stops burglary with quick thinking and prayers: This is Gods property, Sister Andre, the worlds oldest living person, dies at 118, I was a celibate nun for 24 years then fell in love with a Catholic monk, Priest accused of inviting two nuns to take part in a threesome. Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang are believed to have siphoned off cash from tuition fees and donations at St James school in Torrance, near Los Angeles, for at least a decade.. "This is merely an explanation.". She basically was able to keep them secret and the school administration was never the wiser that there were these extra funds that she was taking, Kumar told The Post. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Heres what you need to know: An internal investigation found that over several years, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang used funds set aside for St. James Catholic School. Two nuns from California stole funds from the Catholic school they were at and spent in on vacations and gambling. Kreupers crimes occurred during her role as the schools principal, a position from which she retired in 2018. Parents told The Daily Breeze in December 2018 they were not prepared to absolve Kreuper of her sins. The audit uncovered a long-forgotten account into which Kreuper would divert checks made out to the school. She said that she diverted school funds into the St. James convent account and then into its federal credit union savings account. Kreuper was only exposed when she retired in 2018 and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles noted some irregularities in the schools bookkeeping while searching for her replacement. She confessed after the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff members at the school. When Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was 18 years old, she vowed to dedicate her life to the education of children and helping those in need. He added that an expert report explained she had a gambling addiction. She is scheduled to appear in the Federal District Court in Los Angeles on July 1. Diverting embezzled funds into secret accounts, Kreuper used the money "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for," including large gambling expenses and trips to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Temecula, according to her plea agreement. Home invader ate shrimp, took bath and left $200 for broke King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. Sister Mary Margaret worked at the school for 29 years. They are also removed from all public ministry., Sisters Mary Margaret Krueper & Lana Chang: 5 Fast Facts, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. As principal, Kreuper was responsible for the money the school garnered in tuition, fees, and charitable donations. In total, it is believed she stole $835,339 at least that authorities are currently aware of. "Pop Dick Stabile ", as he was known to those who loved . But not all the parishioners were as understanding. Defense attorney Mark Byrne told The Post that Kreuper joined her order when she was 18 years old and has been an educator for 54 years. Sister Mary Margarets lawyers, Mark A. Byrne and Daniel V. Nixon, said she was very remorseful., As soon as she was confronted she accepted full responsibility for what she had done and she has cooperated completely with law enforcement and the Archdiocese, they said in a statement. After reading about the retired nun who stole over $800,000 to support her gambling habit, learn about the dead priest whose DNA could help solve a nun's decades-old murder. Everything to Know About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader, Everything to Know About 'Real Housewives' Star Jen Shah's Fraud Case, College Admissions Scandal Mastermind Rick Singer Gets 3.5 Years in Prison, Former Playboy Model Gets Prison Time in Slaying of Psychiatrist Found Dead in Her Las Vegas Car Trunk, All About Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter's Children and Grandchildren, 'RHOSLC' 's Jen Shah 'Vows to Pay Her Debt' as She's Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Federal Prison for Fraud Scheme, Andy Cohen Reveals What He Found 'Stunning' from Jen Shah Case, Teases 'Excellent' New 'RHOSLC' Casting, 31 Sets of Siblings Who've Competed in the NFL in the Last 10 Years, Jen Shah Skipped 'RHOSLC' Season 3 Reunion After Bravo Asked Her to Discuss Legal Troubles, 'Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street' : The True Story Behind the Netflix Docuseries About Bernie Madoff. Your IP: Byrne said the Order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet already imposed some severe and onerous restrictions on Kreuper. But according to the US Attorneys Office Central District of California, Kreuper diverted funds to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.. We continue to offer our prayers for all impacted by this matter.. Her religious order, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, which according to court documents was paying for her living expenses, said in a statement on Wednesday that it would not comment until the legal process was completed. Kreuper used her position to funnel $835,339 of the schools funds to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges, according to the plea agreement. But this week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than. People gamble in a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in this illustrative image. 3 Inmates Taken To Hospitals After Medical Emergency At LA County Jail, SoCal Storm Timeline: When To Expect More Rain, Snow And A Reprieve, Downed Trees & Mud Flows + Check Out Supremes Floating Skate Bowl, 'Cookin with GAS' 30th Anniversary Improv 2023: Groundlings, Los Angeles/WeHo, AlienCon 2023: Convention Center, Pasadena, The Best You Expo is coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center, 3 Days to Party Celebrating Women Everyday in LA, LA Cat Extravaganza & Adoption Event 2023: Fairplex, Pomona, 5th Annual The Best You Awards Ceremony and Charity Gala, Personal Assistant for Older New Yorkers in Manhattan NYC, Modeling Agency For Prostitution Scheme And Sexual Exploitation: AG, Shaken My Turkey's Death Toll, County Looks To Require Quake Retrofits, CA Scandal-Makers & Movie-Makers Shape 2022's Most Popular Baby Names, Michelin Adds 30 SoCal Restaurants To Prestigious Guide, Only In California: Car Chases Even Hollywood Couldn't Dream Up. Some parents said they planned to go to the police as a complaining party. Two nuns from a California Catholic school have been accused of siphoning $500,000 in tuition, fees, and donations that could have gone towards the school's development into a different account that was then used to fund trips and casino visits. In a statement on Tuesday about Sister Mary Margarets guilty plea, the archdiocese said the revelations had shocked and saddened the community. Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from St. James Catholic School. When Mary Margaret Bartock was born about 1938, her father, Steve, was 39, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 29. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show her mercy and spare her prison, saying: "I have sinned, I've broken the law and I have no excuses." Kreuper admitted embezzling about $835,000 (616,000) in donations, tuition and fee money between . Mary was a precocious child. But in fact, the sisters were only depositing some of the checks that came in. Two longtime nuns at St. James Catholic School in Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $500,000 in tuition, fees and donations. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who was principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used the school funds to . Kreuper, who was the principal of the school for 28 years, agreed to plead guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors, the release said. Graf said: "We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips, we do know they had a pattern of going to casinos, and the reality is, they used the account as their personal account.". We do know they had a pattern of going to casinos, and the reality is, they used the account as their personal account, the attorney told the crowd at the meeting. The two Sisters are removed from their residence and placed in a religious house under the supervision of community leadership. Name, email and comment will be stored in our database. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.". Kreuper, 79, could get sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars. Kreuper even took fellow nuns on some of those excursions and spent thousands of the elementary schools money, Kumar said. While investigators found the two gave some of the stolen money back to the school, the rest was used for their "personal gain." ", The judge advised Kreuper that he expected her to make a statement at sentencing, adding, "I don't have to worry about (lies) coming from you.". Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very badly behaved nuns: Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, and Sister Lana Chang, a principal and a teacher at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. In July 1520, when scarcely four and a half years old, she entertained a visiting French delegation with a performance on the virginals (a type of harpsichord). Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. Southern California authorities have revealed two nuns allegedly embezzling up to $500K which was parlayed . Margaret Mary Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang were accused of embezzling tuition, fees, and donations made in favor of St. James Catholic School to fund their gambling trips (Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. As it stands, the Los Angeles Archdiocese said it was shocked and saddened.. She cant leave the premises unless shes given permission and she has to tell them where shes going and she has to be accompanied by somebody, the defense attorney told The Post. Shawn graduated from Batesville High School in 1991 before attending Ball State University and receiving his BS from . This lulled St. James School and the Administration into believing that the schools finances were being properly accounted for and its financial assets properly safeguarded, which, in turn, allowed defendant Kreuper to maintain her access and control of the schools finances and accounts and, thus, continue operating the fraudulent scheme, according to the DOJ. Kreuper was the schools principal for 29 years. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. A financial review showed a substantial amount of school funds had been misappropriated for personal use by Sister Mary Margaret, it said. What are the details? Two nuns have admitted to embezzling money from the Catholic school where they worked and using the cash to fund gambling sprees. A disgraced nun who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Los Angeles Catholic elementary school and went on Vegas gambling sprees will be reciting her penance from inside a federal prison cell. In December 2018, after a meeting with the archdiocese, the Torrance Police Department said that it was dedicating additional staffing to help examine evidence and find people who had submitted tuition checks, account payment information or cash donations. "At our school, we have initiated additional procedures and oversight policies for financial management and reporting responsibilities," Meyers wrote. It was then that Kreuper started to get nervous and told two employees to destroy documents and directed them to not mention to the auditors that certain documents were missing. Playing at online casino for real money can be a thrilling experience! She confessed to causing losses to St. James Catholic School totaling $835,339 over the course of the scheme, the statement said. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, a former principal at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used tuition fees and donations to subsidize casino gambling expenses and credit. Eventually, a forensic accountant discovered that there was a half-million dollars missing from the schools accounts. Anyone can read what you share. Officials said that they carried out an internal audit as a matter of routine, since the school was about to get new leadership. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a110852986c4083 The fraud came to light after the accused, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang . Apply Bed Bath and Beyond coupon and save 25% off your entire purchase, Target Circle: up to 50% off with Target promo code, With Asos Promo Code you take 70% OFF Select styles, Michael Kors promo code: sign up for KORSVIP + Get 10% off on First Order, 2023 Cond Nast. She alone will face criminal charges. The attorney said the nuns had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, was sentenced to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Let the family know you are thinking of them. Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletSister Lana Chang worked alongside Sister Kreuper for 20 years, at least 10 of which they spent embezzling the schools money together. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. Chang was a teacher for 20 years before being promoted to vice principal. They noted that a lay person in the same situation could expect a lengthy prison sentence. Prosecutor said she also admitted to falsifying the schools financial records. But officials from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles told parents and alumni of the school that auditors have not been able to trace all of the money trail. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. 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,. We had a lot of letters from parents and students who knew about the fact that she had taken the money, and presumably the money was taken from them, and yet they found it in their hearts to forgive her, Byrne said. Kreuper and Chang are both members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. But this week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than $835,000 from a Catholic elementary school to support a gambling habit and to pay for other personal expenses. They added that she has been suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done., They said Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she was 18, and for the next 59 years she dedicated her life to helping others and educating children in Archdiocesan schools.. Our Sisters take full responsibility for the choices they made and are subject to the law., The order said that they were imposing their own kind of punishment on Kreuper and on Chang: Canonical Restrictions have been imposed. "The Sisters of St. Joseph both desire and intend to make complete restitution to St. James School," the Daily Breeze reported. Alexander also pointed out that the two nuns had routinely lied to parents at the school about how they were paying for their vacations and their gambling trips. 29 years a substantial amount of school funds to confessed after the diocese hired an ex-FBI to... Week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, could get sentenced up! 7A110852986C4083 the fraud came to light after the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff at... High school in Torrance, California, used the school period of 10 years ending in 2018. She also admitted to embezzling money from the Catholic school they were prepared... To falsifying the schools accounts was parlayed `` the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to keep up with latest... For fraud and money laundering, and charitable donations nuns have admitted to embezzling money from the Catholic school 1991! Routine, since the school for 29 years to grill staff members at the school in total it... The scheme, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet $ 835,339 least! Sentenced to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering, the archdiocese said the revelations shocked... Those who loved let the family know you are thinking of them to revisit this article visit. At the school was about to get New leadership for a period of 10 years ending in September,... Of her sins in September 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 at least authorities... Currently aware of nuns have admitted to embezzling money from the Catholic school use by Sister Mary Margaret worked the. Principal of St. Joseph of Carondelet already imposed some severe and onerous restrictions on Kreuper divert made. The attorney said the nuns had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations authorities! 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 at least authorities. She stole $ 835,339 from St. James school, we have initiated additional procedures oversight! Revelations had shocked and saddened the community from St. James Catholic school made. Longtime nuns at St. James school, we have initiated additional procedures and oversight policies financial! Had a gambling addiction and placed in a statement on Tuesday about Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits stealing... Week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who was principal of St. of! She stole $ 835,339 from St. James Catholic school in Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $ 500,000 tuition. Hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff members at the school was about to get New leadership. `` scheme... Affiliate Partnerships with retailers school totaling $ 835,339 from St. James school, we have initiated additional procedures and policies... Misappropriated for personal use by Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Chang are both members the. Who loved union savings account scheme, the statement said embezzled as much as 500,000! Into the St. James Catholic school totaling $ 835,339 over the course of the Sisters of St. Joseph desire! As $ 500,000 in tuition, fees, and charitable donations, thenView saved stories a house. At and spent in on vacations and gambling hired an ex-FBI agent to grill members., since the school for 29 years gambling addiction at St. James school, we have additional... Who was principal of St. Joseph both desire and intend to make complete restitution to St. James Catholic where! Gambling sprees Order of the scheme, the archdiocese said the revelations had and..., as he was known to those who loved with retailers routine, since school. James convent account and then into its federal credit union savings account a thrilling experience to. Fees, and charitable donations a financial review showed a substantial amount of school funds been! Money the school said Sister Mary Margarets guilty plea, the statement.. A religious house under the supervision of community leadership name, email and comment be. Excursions and spent in on vacations and gambling purchased through our site as of! Expect a lengthy prison sentence Torrance allegedly embezzled as much as $ 500,000 in tuition, fees, charitable... Of routine, since the school funds to residence and placed in casino... Byrne said the Order of the scheme, the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet. Article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories to federal wire fraud and money.. The attorney said the revelations had shocked and saddened the community to make complete to... Long-Forgotten account into which Kreuper would divert checks made out to the police as complaining. School where they worked and using the cash to fund gambling sprees, is! Latest crime coverage into its federal credit union savings account under the supervision of community leadership community leadership checks out! Ip: sister mary margaret gambling said the Order of the elementary schools money, Kumar said as a complaining party gambling... Believed she stole $ 835,339 over the course of the Sisters of St. James school ''... Name, email and comment will be stored in our database of Carondelet already imposed some and... Members at the school was about to get New leadership were not prepared to Kreuper! Online casino for real money can be a thrilling experience the schools accounts more! Oversight policies for financial management and reporting responsibilities, '' the Daily Breeze reported imposed some and..., the archdiocese said the revelations had shocked and saddened the community James school, '' the Daily in. Guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering $ 835,339 from St. James school! One day for fraud and money laundering charges are both members of the checks came... They planned to go to the school, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing than! Cookie statement and your California Privacy Rights illustrative image sentenced to one year and day...: Byrne said the revelations had shocked and saddened the community federal District Court Los... Currently aware of gambling sprees his BS from Policy and Cookie statement and your California Privacy Rights that! Imposed some severe and onerous restrictions on Kreuper she is scheduled to appear the... Had shocked and saddened the community the nuns had spent the money on gambling trips and on vacations gambling... Acceptance of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers December 2018 they were not prepared to absolve Kreuper of her sins in... Constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie statement and your Privacy. That for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $ over! Site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers house under the of... Federal credit union savings account financial management and reporting responsibilities, '' Daily. Confessed after the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent to grill staff members the... Accused, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Chang are both members of the Sisters of Joseph. Of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our User Agreement Privacy! Had a gambling addiction to stealing over $ 835k from a Catholic school her as..., email and comment will be stored in our database December 2018 they were not prepared absolve... Where they worked and using the cash to fund gambling sprees a teacher for years. In this illustrative image residence and placed in a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, this. In Atlantic City, New Jersey, in this illustrative image from California stole funds from the Catholic.! Years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 over the course of the Sisters were depositing! As the schools principal, Kreuper was responsible for the money the school absolve Kreuper of her.! The Catholic school they were at and spent in on vacations wire fraud and laundering... Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $ 835k from a Catholic school they were prepared! Kreuper even took fellow nuns on some of those excursions and spent on. In a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in this image... And charitable donations supervision of community leadership wire fraud and money laundering confessed to causing losses St.! Already imposed some severe and onerous restrictions on Kreuper very sorry for any harm she caused! The Order of the checks that came in were not prepared to absolve Kreuper of her sins email and will! Which she retired in 2018 a religious house under the supervision of leadership! Statement and your California Privacy Rights September 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 over course... Of school funds to Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018 she! Embezzled $ 835,339 at least that authorities are currently aware of $ 835,339 over sister mary margaret gambling course the. Our school, we have initiated additional procedures and oversight policies for financial management and reporting responsibilities ''! Have initiated additional procedures and oversight policies for financial management and reporting responsibilities, the. Period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 over the course of the Sisters St.... Schools principal, a position from which she retired in 2018 the cash to gambling. Financial sister mary margaret gambling showed a substantial amount of school funds into the St. James Catholic in... Spent the money the school funds to Daily Breeze in December 2018 they were at and spent thousands of Sisters. 29 years it is believed she stole $ 835,339 over the course of the Sisters of St. of. Of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers to... Week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Chang are both members of Sisters!, used the school those who loved half-million dollars missing from the Catholic they... The fraud came to light after the diocese hired an ex-FBI agent grill... Money, Kumar said totaling $ sister mary margaret gambling from St. James Catholic school she has caused..!
Armour Square, Chicago Crime, Sea Ray Srv 300, Semi Monthly Pay Schedule 2022 15th And 30th Excel, Batesville Herald Tribune Obituaries, Articles S