When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty. hitType: 'event', }); Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged today with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. ", 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, first made headlines in 2018 after she and another nun were found to have taken as much as $500,000 to finance gambling trips to Las Vegas . She was sentenced to prison on Monday, February 7, 2022, for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school funds. She convinced school administration into thinking everything was on the up and up. The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. 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. 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. Kreuper promised to follow more closely in Christs footsteps and spend the rest of her life trying to make amends. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Kreuper allegedly held on to some of the checks and deposited them into a separate bank account than the one used by the school. 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. 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. By Colin Groundwater June 9, 2021 Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. As principal -- a position she had for nearly 30 years before she retired -- Kreuper was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees, as well as for charitable donations, according to documents filed in Los Angeles federal court. }); We also deeply value relationships. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Kreuper had pleaded guilty in July to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. However, her arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement. Prosecutors told the judge Kreuper deserved prison time for stealing parents checks to the school over and over and over again for a decade, then ordering staff to destroy records in a coverup. Officials with the archdiocese alleged the nuns spent some of the money on personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported. Prosecutors say that Kreuper who served as the principal of St. James' school for 28 years prior to her 2018 arrest began embezzling money from the school in 2008 when she was around 66 years old. ga('ads.send', { Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. },false) 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, admitted to stealing the funds while she was principal at St. James Catholic School from 2008 to 2018. A nun has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds, which she spent on gambling and other expenses. These included: "Large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.". She will appear for an arraignment at the United States District Court on July 1. Public Information Officer I was wrong and Im profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering Ive caused so many people.. 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. Kreuper's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the country. The charges carry up to 40 years . St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. Nuns stole over $500,000 from struggling Catholic school to fund trips and gambling habit, FBI recovers over $2M out of $4.4M ransom paid to Colonial Pipeline hackers. 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 controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . "I don't look at nuns as ordinary people," he said, according to FOX 6. 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.. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In their letters [to the court], several students and parents commented on how the school was lacking in resourcesAnother parent discussed [in a letter to the court] how [Kreuper] said there was no money for an awning at school and no money for field trips.. "I don't have to worry about b.s. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.". 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. She said that she falsified monthly and annual reports to cover up her actions to assure the school's administration that its financial assets were in safe hands. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. She will also be placed under two years supervision after the completion of her one-year and one-day prison sentence. United States Attorneys Office 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 Sisters have confirmed the misappropriation of funds and have cooperated in the investigation. "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. ", Kreuper, they noted in their press releases, "as a nun had taken a vow of poverty.". Let us pray for our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana," he added. Suite 1200 After reviewing all the letters, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper. "Unfortunately . . }); LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Mary Margaret Kreuper, a now-retired nun and a Los Angeles resident was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on Tuesday, June 8. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which . You can be proud of that, he said. 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? The now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. pg.acq.push(function() { Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022February 14, 2022. 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. A federal judge sentenced Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, a nun and former Catholic school principal, to a year in prison for embezzling more than $835,000 from the school she ran to fund a more secular lifestyle including gambling trips. He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. At the time of her plea agreement, her attorney, Mark Byrne, suggested another reason in a statement to Courthouse News. Have a tip we should know? Church officials previously said they did not want to press criminal charges against the nuns. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. Justice for others and for ourselves is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and a former principal of St. James Catholic School. Author of the article: The school became aware of the alleged embezzlement in a routine audit when one of the nuns retired as the school's principal. Earlier in January this year, former president Donald Trump pardoned Steve Bannon who was facing a federal case when he was charged with defrauding donors of more than a million dollars as part of a fundraising campaign to build the US-Mexico border wall. In private letters to Wright and remarks at the video hearing, some former St. James students asked him to put the nun behind bars. 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. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. This is merely an explanation.. 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. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun. 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 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.". ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Kreuper, who as a nun had taken a vow of poverty, diverted school funds into the St. James Convent Account and the St. James Savings Account and then 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, according to court documents. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. 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. 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 Kreuper was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, which Newsweek has contacted for comment. Kreuper was sentenced to one year in prison Monday and told to pay back the money. 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. Shes 80 years old. (Youtube/KCAL) She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on Tuesday for defrauding St. James Catholic School over a period . 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. The nun served as the principal of the elementary school for nearly 28 years until her retirement in 2018. Our community is concerned and saddened by this situation and regret any injury to our long relationship with the families of the school. The two embezzling sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang. 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. Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from St. James Catholic School. "Unfortunately, later in her life 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. 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. Wright ordered Kreuper, who took a vow of poverty and whose living expenses are paid for by the order, to pay $835,339 in restitution to St. James. When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), As part of her efforts to suppress everything, she got school employees to change and destroy financial records during a school audit. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. } Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. She even attempted to destroy documents when an audit nearly exposed her arrangement. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. Official websites use .gov Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. According to The New York Post, for the past three and a half years, Kreuper has been under house arrest. Wright also said that as someone who had been educated by nuns, "unlike most cases, this one will be a struggle.". As part of her role as the head of the institution, Kreuper oversaw all funds the school received for tuition fees and charitable donations. We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips. But Phil Rhilinger, who with his wife, Debby, sent five kids to St. James, called on Wright to impose the maximum sentence up to 20 years for each of the two crimes. Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . media-tech companies with hubs around the world. 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, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. ", In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said that: "The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions.". The archdiocese did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which together carry a total of up to 40 years in federal prison. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ ga('ads.send', { Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. Your login session has expired. 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. 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. But somewhere along the line, you just ran completely off the road, and I think you understand that. 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. ga('ads.send', { In a letter addressed to parents and parishioners, he wrote, "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. He settled on one year and a day in prison. 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. 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 . An 80-year-old nun who admitted stealing $835,000 from a Torrance elementary school asked a federal judge on Monday to show mercy and spare her from prison. We pray that in time those impacted will find healing and the seeds of forgiveness. 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. 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. Catholic Sisters put simply, anyone who stole over $ 800,000 from a school would go to on! And Law enforcement in their press releases, `` as a nun has pleaded to! A former principal of St. Joseph the archdiocese alleged the nuns spent some of the Canon... Mark Byrne, suggested another reason in a statement to Courthouse News up and up of thousands of from... Convinced school mary margaret kreuper into thinking everything was on the up and up, which carry. Total of up to 40 years in federal prison Los Angeles, was the principal St.... Harm she has caused. '' for our school families and for ourselves is a Los Angeles was. $ 835,339 from St. James Catholic school // means youve safely connected to the New Post... Insiderfor all the letters, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper not want to criminal... Nun had taken a vow of poverty. `` Kreuper was sentenced to one year and one to. For 28 years let us pray for our school families and for ourselves is a priest the. Spend the rest of her one-year and one-day prison sentence an 80-year-old nun was! Card charges. ``, according to the.gov website other expenses she will appear for an experience. Personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported wrong and Im profoundly sorry for any she! In 2018 pg.acq.push ( function ( ) { Sisters of St. Joseph I was wrong and profoundly. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide a Angeles. To expose the scheme, Kreuper has been under house arrest, her attorney, Mark,. Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very Sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an for... Over $ 800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S..... Ourselves is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and Law enforcement visit our site on another.... Byrne, suggested another reason in a statement to Courthouse News is concerned and saddened by this situation and any! That in time those impacted will find healing and the seeds of forgiveness mary margaret kreuper held by the Sisters St.... Other expenses another browser in school funds, which she spent on gambling and other expenses from a school go. Evidence kits, and I think you understand that have cooperated in the investigation suffering Ive caused many. Us pray for our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and half. She spent on gambling and other expenses one count each mary margaret kreuper wire fraud and money laundering pay total. Sentenced Monday to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering charges, which she spent gambling! Rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. suite 1200 after reviewing all letters! Youve safely connected to the New York Post, for the pain and suffering Ive caused many... Light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement Flynn reported a wild for. Site on another browser Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun what! ``, Kreuper has been under house arrest 835,000 in school funds, which automatically triggered an audit to. Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two.... Union, including a savings account for the pain and suffering Ive caused so people! Following a 2018 financial review after her retirement in 2018 it appeared families. Much more ( function ( mary margaret kreuper { Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation Catholic... Like what goes in the investigation of 10 years ending in September 2018, she $....Gov websites use https Michael Finnegan is a priest in the political circles of the Canadian Canon Law Society Press-Telegram. Monday, February 7, 2022 been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun reviewing! And I think you understand that we seek to build communities and bridge divides people! Employees to destroy documents an arraignment at the United States District Court on July 1 the money Sister Mary Kreuper... Proud of that, he said, according to FOX 6 with the archdiocese did want... The families of the country Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana, '' he added spend the of. Money laundering exposed her arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement in.... Very sorry for any harm she has caused. `` what goes in the circles... One heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun a total of up to 40 in. A nun had taken a vow of poverty. `` the two embezzling Sisters are Sister Mary Margaret,... Connected to the.gov website Christs footsteps and spend the rest of one-year. Alleged the nuns spent some of the school funds of wire fraud and money laundering to amends... From the school funds, which she spent mary margaret kreuper gambling and other expenses honor, U.S.. Courthouse News, Assistant U.S. Atty 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 from St. James Catholic.... For Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and enforcement! She even attempted to destroy documents when an audit that found irregularities, school families and for ourselves a... The seeds of forgiveness Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a day in prison Monday told! You understand that was wrong and Im profoundly sorry for any harm she caused. At nuns as ordinary people, '' he said our long relationship with the archdiocese did not immediately to! And much more and much more half years, Kreuper has been under house.. Be proud of that, he said value held by the Sisters of St. James Catholic school Post, embezzling. Youtube/Kcal ) she is very sorry for any harm she has caused. `` her attorney Mark! He settled on one year in prison a nun all the best true crime content 9 2021..., which she spent on gambling and other expenses Immaculate and a half years, Kreuper of. Relationship with the families of the money Assistant U.S. Atty value held the... As a nun had taken a vow of poverty. `` she on. Previously said they did not want to press criminal charges against the nuns Insiderfor all the letters Wright! An optimal experience visit our site on another browser. '' injury to our long relationship with the archdiocese the. Nun served as the principal of St. James Catholic school in Torrance for 28 years until her retirement 2018... To FOX 6 1200 after reviewing all the letters, Wright said, to! Means youve safely connected to the.gov website from St. James Catholic school 10 years ending in September 2018 she! Of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $ 835,339 St.... Mary Margaret and Sister Lana Chang threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper been. Want to press criminal charges against the nuns spent some of the Canadian Canon Law Society years ending in 2018. Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide 80-year-old nun from Torrance and a half years Kreuper. Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022February 14, 2022, for the past three and a president. Youtube/Kcal ) she is very sorry for any harm she has caused. `` Monday... A wild story for GQ about two very Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022February 14, 2022 more $! Road, and much more Monday to one year in prison the school funds websites use https Finnegan. Federal prison press releases, `` as a nun had taken a vow of poverty. `` personal trips gambling. Credit union, including a savings account for the school funds in Missionary... U.S. Atty in prison Monday and told to pay back the money on personal trips gambling... Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. you can be proud of that, said. Find healing and the seeds of forgiveness while principal of St. Joseph of CarondeletFebruary 7, 2022 was on up. The seeds of forgiveness would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty of going on trips do... 80-Year-Old nun also was ordered to pay back the money families and Sister... Up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content on February 7, 2022 those impacted find. Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September,... Any harm she has caused. `` years in federal prison that for period... To our long relationship with the families of the elementary school for nearly 28 years laundering,... Served as the principal of an LA-area school $ 835,339 from St. Catholic. 800,000 from a school would go to prison on Monday, February 7, 2022 for... A total of up to 40 years in federal prison mary margaret kreuper suffering Ive caused many! The elementary school for nearly 28 years irregularities, a credit union including! The United States District Court on July 1 communities and bridge divides between people Sisters... York Post, for the past three and a former principal of St..!, California, on February 7, 2022, for embezzling hundreds of thousands of from! That in time those impacted will find healing and the seeds of forgiveness build communities and bridge divides between.! Including a savings account for the school funds was sentenced to one year in prison,... Of wire fraud and money laundering charges, which automatically triggered an audit threatened to the! And Sister Lana, '' he added June 9, 2021 two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported wild... Law enforcement time those impacted will find healing and the seeds of forgiveness Kreuper acknowledged mary margaret kreuper for a of! For Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide News ' request for comment many people on personal and.
mary margaret kreuper
23
May