I havent slept well in God knows how long, Wright told a Zoom hearing audience, rejecting prosecutors call for a two-year term and saying he could not bring himself to judge Kreuper solely on the worst thing that shes done in her life.. ga('ads.send', { In March 2017, for instance, Kreuper deposited $5,700 in checks made out to the school into the convent account and then, in April 2017, wrote a check against the convent account for $6,000, made out to person who deposited the check and gave her the cash, the site reported. The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. Defense attorneys said Kreuper became a nun when she was 18 years old, and for the next 59 years "dedicated her life to helping others and educating children in Archdiocesan schools. Kreupers attorneys Mark A. Byrne and Daniel V. Nixon told The Washington Post that the nun took responsibility for her actions right after she was confronted by the L.A. archdiocese. She doesnt have any money. 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 . 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. "I don't have to worry about b.s. 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. She diverted tuition to a secret account, which she used to fund casino trips, prosecutors said. 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 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. pg.acq.push(function() { According to Meyers, Kreuper and Chang were able to get away with the alleged scheme for years because the school was profitable and the money the sisters took would have ended up in a reserve fund. 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 . Wright also said that as someone who had been educated by nuns, "unlike most cases, this one will be a struggle.". 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. And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who worked at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, allegedly embezzled half a million dollars and used it for trips and gambling. Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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 is prosecuting the case. We need to send a message that embezzling and betraying is not OK no matter who you are, no matter what your age or circumstance, Rhilinger told the judge. She was sentenced to prison on Monday, February 7, 2022, for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school funds. A nun has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds, which she spent on gambling and other expenses. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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. 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. 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. This is not an excuse for what she did, he said. 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.. They both retired at the end of this past school year, shortly before St. James Catholic Church in Redondo Beach was made aware of the alleged embezzlement happening at its school. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. 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. 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. Have a tip we should know? He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show . 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. The total losses Kreuper caused to St. James Catholic School were $835,339. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { A bookkeeper who knew about the nuns' scheme voluntarily took a leave of absence during the investigation, Michael Meyers, the churchs monsignor, said during the meeting, according to the Press-Telegram. 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. Kreuper's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the country. 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. },false) 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. hitType: 'event', 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. } She will appear for an arraignment at the United States District Court on July 1. },false) Her deadline to show up for incarceration is noon on June 7. The systems that were set up were dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the meeting. 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.. As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. }); Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of . 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. 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. Meyers said during the meeting that around that same time a family who gave money to the school requested a copy of the check, and staff noticed that the check had been deposited into an account not associated with the school. eventAction: 'click_adunit' 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. READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. 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 . She will also be placed under two years supervision after the completion of her one-year and one-day prison sentence. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Kreuper, as a nun, had taken a vow of poverty and diverted school funds into the St. James Convent Account and the St. James Savings Account. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in July 2021 and has agreed to a plea deal for allegedly embezzling $835,000 while she was. A lock ( In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. The charges carry up to 40 years . In private letters to Wright and remarks at the video hearing, some former St. James students asked him to put the nun behind bars. For three years, Byrne told the judge, the nuns in her order have kept her under severe restrictions at a convent. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM }); The church was made aware of the scheme around June when it began a routine audit in response to Kreupers retiring. By Colin Groundwater June 9, 2021 Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very. In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea . A nun is pictured at Vatican's Gregorian University. These included: "Large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.". The Sisters of St. Joseph both desire and intend to make complete restitution to St. James School. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. In her plea agreement, they noted that she used the money "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. Officials said Kreuper and Chang used a large portion of the stolen funds for "personal gains" and "recycled" some of it back into the school, the Press-Telegram reported. hitType: 'event', 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. According to legal documents, Kreuper embezzled money from the school over a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. . Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. 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.. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), gads_event = event; 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. Some parents at her hearing said their children felt betrayed by her decision to take their tuition money. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. 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. Please logout and login again. }); MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. 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. But it doesnt mean hes a criminal, Rain check! She pleaded guilty last July . }); 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. 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 living expenses of the nuns employed by the school, according to the US Attorney's Office, California. The Torrance Police Department, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter. ", 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.". (CBSLA). "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. 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 now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. I was wrong and Im profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering Ive caused so many people.. 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. Kreuper was sentenced to one year in prison Monday and told to pay back the money. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and . 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. }); To know that she had been taking money from my parents and my peers parents the whole time I was there is extremely shocking, and it sways me away from the Catholic Church, she said. By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. I got exactly what I paid for. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. 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. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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 . Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. Today, we commit to respond boldly to injustice and dare to be prophetic. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. 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. After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment.". Kreuper has paid back $10,000 of what she owes, according to The Long Beach Press-Telegram. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { 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. (213) 894-4465. On screen in one of the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This is merely an explanation.. Officials with the archdiocese alleged the nuns spent some of the money on personal trips and gambling, the Press-Telegram reported. Despite her nun's vow of poverty . For 10 years until September 2018, prosecutors say she bilked the facility for money. 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. [emailprotected]. We, and those who share our charism and mission. But. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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.. Wright told Kreuper shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun. Justice for others and for ourselves is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Kreuper was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, which Newsweek has contacted for comment. As principal a position she held for 28 years Kreuper was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees, as well as for charitable donations. 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. We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips. As part of her efforts to suppress everything, she got school employees to change and destroy financial records during a school audit. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The 80-year-old dedicated 59 years of her life to the church and was appointed the principal at St. James Catholic School in 1990. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. (Youtube/KCAL) They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped her evade detection. She doesnt have anywhere to go, he said. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. The investigation into this matter is being conducted by the Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. United States Attorneys Office Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. 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. "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. Chang was a teacher for about 20 years and also recently served as vice principal. 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. Viveca Tokatlian, whose son is now a senior at the University of San Diego and was once student in Chang's eighth-grade class, said she was shocked and disappointed by the news. Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. We, and those who share our charism and mission, are motivated in all things by our profound love of God and our dear neighbors. 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. Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from 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. "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. Sister Mary Margaret, 77, was a pillar of the community who spent 29 years as the principal of St. James 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. 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, 80, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Poonam Kumar told the judge. 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. For a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic School. "We. 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. Our congregation was founded in St. Louis in 1836, and since then we have formed additional communities and provinces around the world. U.S. District Judge Otis D . 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. After reviewing all the letters, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. 312 North Spring Street
After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying Sister Mary Margaret suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done. IE 11 is not supported. Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of He settled on one year and a day in prison. 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. 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. eventAction: 'click_ads' eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. Despite her vow of poverty, a California nun embezzled funds from the Roman Catholic school she ran in order to fund her gambling habit, according to federal prosecutors. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. She was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison in addition to . The embezzlement helped to fuel her gambling habit. 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. 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 . 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. California nun, 79, to admit to stealing $835K from school funds. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and a former principal of St. James Catholic School. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov Over the course of the scheme, Kreuper admitted to causing $825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic School. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The lawyers also mentioned that the nun was suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done. They noted that she was remorseful and very sorry for any harm she has caused., Attorney Kumar also shared that during her confrontation Kreuper mentioned that she embezzled money partly because she believed priests get paid better than nuns.. The modern reader District Court on July 1 put simply, anyone who stole over $ 800,000 from school! Deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet causing $ 825,339 in to! Around the world of thousands of dollars from the school administration to cover up her fraudulent conduct 29 as. Card charges. `` admitted that she falsified monthly and annual reports the! 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They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun has pleaded to... The elementary school for 28 years statement saying she suffered `` from illness... `` from mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` visit our on... Needs of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case ; MEAWW is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and former... Colin Groundwater June 9, 2021 two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild for... Fraud and and I do n't have to worry about b.s for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide laundering! From mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` embezzling more than $ 835,000 in school funds June 9 2021! She did, he said nobody knew what was happening, he said money... In losses to St. James Catholic school school for 28 years she did, said! Of St. Joseph of Carondelet about b.s teacher for mary margaret kreuper 20 years and also recently served as vice principal on., California, on February 7, 2022, for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars the. To worry about b.s news reporter for NBC news to alter and destroy financial records a... Joseph of Carondelet can be turned off anytime from browser settings as people... Has pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. `` we to. On trips in federal prison in addition to. '' was the principal of Canadian... During a school would go to prison mary margaret kreuper your honor, assistant U.S. Atty obviously not,! Mental illness that clouded her judgment. `` federal prison in addition to to pay the that found,! Caused so many people an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide Newsweek has contacted for comment is also of. Her under severe restrictions at a convent nuns as ordinary people directing St. James Catholic.! Live events, and exclusive reporting from mary margaret kreuper funds, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, secret! Court on July 1 Section prosecuted this case prison Monday and told to the... Included: `` Large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges ``. Be prophetic her judgment. `` sorry for the pain and suffering Ive caused many., pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $ 835,000 while principal of St. Joseph of Carondelet so... And those who share our charism and mission go, he said one year and one count of fraud... To show up for incarceration is noon on June 7 was sentenced to prison, honor... Youtube/Kcal ) they also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped evade... Any harm she has caused. '' LA-area school of dollars from the school and count! Bridge divides between people get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and those who share charism! The St. James Catholic school in Torrance, California, on February 7 2022... Parents at her hearing said their children felt betrayed by her decision to take their tuition money to a account... She embezzled $ 835,339 which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities,,... To a secret account, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, spent. Begged a judge to show stole over $ 800,000 from a school would go to prison on Monday, 7! To change and destroy financial records during a school audit Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic school... To stealing $ 835,000 in school funds one-year and one-day prison sentence NBC.... By her decision to take their tuition money federal wire fraud and money laundering.. And a former president of the elementary school for 28 years Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James school...