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. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. LOS ANGELES A nun who was the principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in federal prison for stealing more than $835,000 in school funds to pay for personal expenses, including gambling trips. 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. 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. On an annualized basis (approximately $83,000 per year), [Kreuper] stole the equivalent of the tuition of 14 different students per year, prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents. eventAction: 'render' "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. (Youtube/KCAL) The investigation into this matter is being conducted by the Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation. ga('ads.send', { In July, she pleaded guilty to one count each of. The 79-year-old Los Angeles resident was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. I dont feel that Im a victim in this case, he said. 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. June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov 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.. Kreuper allegedly held on to some of the checks and deposited them into a separate bank account than the one used by the school. Lock embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. California nun, 79, to admit to stealing $835K from school funds. 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. This is not an excuse for what she did, he said. Public Information Officer Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of . They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped her evade detection. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. }); Mark Byrne, Kreupers attorney, acknowledged that Kreuper abused her trust, but called on Wright to sentence her to probation. According to legal documents, Kreuper embezzled money from the school over a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. First published on June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM. As part of her role as the head of the institution, Kreuper oversaw all funds the school received for tuition fees and 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. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. She pleaded guilty toone count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in July 2021, according to prosecutors, as part of a plea deal. Suite 1200
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. The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. This is merely an explanation.. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which . Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. }); 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. Ive broken the law and I have no excuses. 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. According to The New York Post, for the past three and a half years, Kreuper has been under house arrest. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. 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. hitType: 'event', These funds were intended to further the students education, not fund [Kreupers] lifestyle. I couldnt help think this is harsher than Club Fed, he said, using a nickname for low-security federal prisons, where conditions are far less harsh than at other lock-ups. When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. In a memo to the judge, prosecutors cited letters from parents and students, including one from a 12-year-old saying Kreuper was just like any other robber.. The embezzlement helped to fuel her gambling habit. He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. But somewhere along the line, you just ran completely off the road, and I think you understand that. Kreuper was principal at the school for 29 years. 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. 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 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. 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. Parent and former school secretaryCheryl Hugo reportedly called Kreupers actions an abuse of power in every possible way.. Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun. gads_event = event; } He settled on one year and a day in prison. 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.. I was wrong, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain and the suffering that I have caused so many people, she told Wright. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which together carry a total of up to 40 years in federal prison. "They and their Order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. Police will, however, still follow the case and present their findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. 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. 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. 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. Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty. A. A locked padlock Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. According to the plea agreement, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. Meyers said he then notified the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who in turn hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review. 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. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. https://t.co/sk6S5pmKk7, She used the money "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for." Wright also said that as someone who had been educated by nuns, "unlike most cases, this one will be a struggle.". The two embezzling sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang. 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? pg.acq.push(function() { Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with wire fraud and money laundering for ripping off St. James Catholic School for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, according to . Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged last month with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering for embezzling the money over the span of 10 years, up until 2018, the . "They were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids," she said. }); READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. Sister Lana, her 67-year-old accomplice, worked there for 20 years as. The Los Angeles Times reports Mary Margaret Kreuper, former principal of St. James Catholic School, was facing 40 years in prison but was sentenced to a year and a day on Monday. At the prosecutors request, the judge later lowered the amount by $10,000 to account for what she has already repaid. 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 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. By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. The systems that were set up were dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the meeting. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. Your login session has expired. 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 in prison on Monday. Justice for others and for ourselves is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II said that Kreuper was one heck of a teacher but she ran completely off the road in her life. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. 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. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. She will also be placed under two years supervision after the completion of her one-year and one-day prison sentence. 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. One former student said Kreuper violated her trust and contributed to her decision to leave the Catholic Church. Online prison records do not yet show Kreuper in federal custody. hitType: 'event', Secure .gov websites use HTTPS She was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. eventAction: 'load' 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. Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. 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.. Warmer storms could cause problems, Two nuns known for their casino outings allegedly stole at least $500,000 from a Torrance school, Torrance Catholic school embroiled in nun theft scandal can be sued for firing teacher with breast cancer, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. 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. She has agreed to plead guilty to the charges for embezzling more than $835,000 from the funds of St. James Catholic School where she served as principal a couple of years ago, to pay for her personal expenses. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. pg.acq.push(function() { Myers said both the nuns had confessed to their crimes. Prosecutors also said that Kreuper directed St. James School staff to alter and destroy financial records during an audit, and caused total losses of $835,339. 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. An elderly nun who pleaded guilty to embezzling from a Catholic school to fund her own gambling trips has been sentenced to a year in federal prison. "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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. 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. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. The total losses Kreuper caused to St. James Catholic School were $835,339. I have sinned, Kreuper said during a Monday teleconference, according to The New York Daily News. A media statement issued last month by her attorneys, Mark A. Byrne and Daniel V. Nixon, said that Sister Mary Margaret had been "very remorseful" and had accepted full responsibility for what she had done. 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. At this point, prosecutors said that she directed her employees to alter and destroy financial records; according to court documents reviewed by Courthouse News, the employees reported her requests to other school administrators instead. 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. 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. 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. The Torrance Police Department, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter. "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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! St. James Catholic School Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the school's tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. 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. 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 for allegedly embezzling $835,000 while she was the. 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