Have a tip we should know? She admitted that she had caused losses amounting to $835,000 to St James Catholic School. "They and their Order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Despite her nun's vow of poverty . The Torrance Police Department, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter. And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people. '', 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. 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.. https://t.co/sk6S5pmKk7, She used the money "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for." 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, who was principal at the elementary school for 28 years, was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. 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. Retired nun Mary Margaret Kreuper, admitted to stealing money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. } "The Sisters have confirmed the misappropriation of funds and have cooperated in the investigation. 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 . gads_event = event; Officials said she would alter the checks by endorsing them with a stamp that read "St. James Convent" instead of "St. James School.". if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ When the Archdiocese of Los Angeles first confronted Kreuper about her misconduct, she argued that priests are better paid than nuns, and said she believed she deserved a raise, according to the government. 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. 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, a retired nun who served as principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, California, for 28 years, agreed on Tuesday to plead guilty to fraud and money laundering. When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. In July, she pleaded guilty to one count each of. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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. 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. 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. 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. The charges carry up to 40. }) Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. }); We pray that in time those impacted will find healing and the seeds of forgiveness. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. Public Information Officer 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. }); 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022February 14, 2022. Mark Byrne, Kreupers attorney, acknowledged that Kreuper abused her trust, but called on Wright to sentence her to probation. Ive used this to teach my son that were all human, we all make mistakes, but the power of forgiveness is the most powerful tool that we have.. 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. 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. The charges against the 79-year-old were leveled on Tuesday, June 8, and prosecutors at the same time filed a plea agreement. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), These funds were intended to further the students education, not fund [Kreupers] lifestyle. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which . READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. 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Trust shouldnt be broken like that., Kevin Kearns, who met Kreuper in 2011 when he enrolled his son in kindergarten at St. James, asked Wright to show leniency, saying she put the students and parents above everything else., The church tells us to forgive those who have trespassed against us, Kearns said. Federal authorities charged 79-year-old Mary Margaret Kreuper with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering for her role in the scheme while principal of St. James Catholic School . Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. eventAction: 'load' 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.. Police will, however, still follow the case and present their findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Kreuper promised to follow more closely in Christs footsteps and spend the rest of her life trying to make amends. / KCAL News. 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. 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. We also deeply value relationships. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. [emailprotected]. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of the Arlington Heights neighborhood in Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also ordered her to pay $825,338 in restitution. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. 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.". embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. Church officials previously said they did not want to press criminal charges against the nuns. Sister Mary Margaret, 77, was a pillar of the community who spent 29 years as the principal of St. James Catholic School. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. The church was made aware of the scheme around June when it began a routine audit in response to Kreupers retiring. Ciaran McEvoy Emailus. }); 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. Shes 80 years old. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { She reportedly claimed, after she was caught by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, that she "used the money to travel, eat out with friends and gamble in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Temecula," the site reported. 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. 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. coming from you," he said from the bench when she appeared in court on Thursday. Over the course of the scheme, Kreuper admitted to causing $825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic School. In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. 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.. Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. Kreuper has paid back $10,000 of what she owes, according to The Long Beach Press-Telegram. 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". The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II has set sentencing for February 7, 2022, when he would expect her to make a statement. Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and restitution. The stolen money could have covered a decade of tuition for 14 students at a school that lacked money for field trips or new books and classroom supplies, prosecutors said. Kreuper was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, which Newsweek has contacted for comment. }); Myers said both the nuns had confessed to their crimes. 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. The two embezzling sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang. 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. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. "They were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids," she said. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. 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. At least I hope you do.. }); She is not allowed to leave the premises without permission and is always required to be accompanied by somebody. 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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. 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. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . The nun has also been asked to pay a total of $825,338 in restitution to St. James Catholic School. The religious order Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, of which Sr. Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sr. Lana Chang are members, has agreed to a "full restitution" of money used for personal matters by the two women, the letter said. 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