if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ 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. 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. Public Information Officer The archdiocese did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. 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. However, her arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. gads_event = event; eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), let gads_event; The church was made aware of the scheme around June when it began a routine audit in response to Kreupers retiring. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. Justice for others and for ourselves is a deep value held by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The nun admitted to her crimes shortly after she was indicted. 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.. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and . In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea . pg.acq.push(function() { 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. Please logout and login again. A nun has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds, which she spent on gambling and other expenses. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper (CBS News) In a statement, the Archdiocese said they informed law enforcement of the misappropriated school funds after she announced her retirement in 2018. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Police will, however, still follow the case and present their findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Myers said both the nuns had confessed to their crimes. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. The now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. 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, Kreupers attorneys wrote. In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea agreement in which Kreuper agreed to plead guilty to the two charges that carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. 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. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. 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. Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . The two embezzling sisters are Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang. But this week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than $835,000. 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. ga('ads.send', { hitType: 'event', Now hes under review, Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. hitType: 'event', Kreuper's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the country. (CBSLA). 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. Have a tip we should know? document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and a former principal of St. James Catholic School. As a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty. 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. was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. He settled on one year and a day in prison. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. }); 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Kreuper was part of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, which Newsweek has contacted for comment. These included: "Large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.". 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 }); "I don't have to worry about b.s. At least I hope you do.. 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. 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.. At the prosecutors request, the judge later lowered the amount by $10,000 to account for what she has already repaid. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Central District of California (Los Angeles) 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. St. James Catholic School Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the school's tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. 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 . Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the living expenses of nuns -- who had taken a vow of poverty -- employed by the school, prosecutors said. When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. 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 admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. A locked padlock For three years, Byrne told the judge, the nuns in her order have kept her under severe restrictions at a convent. 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.. [emailprotected]. According to the plea agreement, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Meyers said he then notified the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who in turn hired an independent forensic auditor to perform a review. Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. 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. ", In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said that: "The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions.". In private letters to Wright and remarks at the video hearing, some former St. James students asked him to put the nun behind bars. In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. pg.acq.push(function() { U.S. District Judge Otis D . 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. 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. 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 revelation came as a rude shock to parents who were led to believe that school was struggling to stay afloat because of a lack of funds. 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. As part of her role as the head of the institution, Kreuper oversaw all funds the school received for tuition fees and charitable donations. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . However, the nun started diverting the money into secret accounts in 2008 to fund her gambling habits and personal credit card charges. 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 . They and their order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. IE 11 is not supported. 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. Not all of the years appear to have involved alleged financial crimes. 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. She doesnt have any money. As the school's principal, she was responsible for managing money received by the. 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. Ciaran McEvoy The systems that were set up were dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the meeting. ", Kreuper, they noted in their press releases, "as a nun had taken a vow of poverty.". The Torrance Police Department, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter. Shes 80 years old. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. ga('ads.send', { https://t.co/sk6S5pmKk7, She used the money "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for." By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. Wright also said that as someone who had been educated by nuns, "unlike most cases, this one will be a struggle.". 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. 312 North Spring Street 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. 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. 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 . },false) 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 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. She must also pay $825,338 in restitution, covering most of the losses of $835,339 from St. James Catholic School in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. '', 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. 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 . 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. 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.. 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.. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ 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. ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov Love of God is at the heart of our charism. 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. hitType: 'event', 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. According to The New York Post, for the past three and a half years, Kreuper has been under house arrest. She even attempted to destroy documents when an audit nearly exposed her arrangement. 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. Kreuper agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. 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 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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { This is merely an explanation.. 'I have sinned, I've broken the law and I . Chang and Kreuper's scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the church's suspicions. While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. 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. Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G Kumar of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting the case. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, was sentenced to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ The total losses Kreuper caused to St. James Catholic School were $835,339. Let us pray for our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana," he added. "I don't look at nuns as ordinary people," he said, according to FOX 6. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted stealing $835,000 while principal of an LA-area school. pg.acq.push(function() { coming from you," he said from the bench when she appeared in court on Thursday. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California. 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. Your login session has expired. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} She was indicted order, which automatically triggered an audit nearly exposed her arrangement came to light a... The past three and a former president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, which has... By the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet order, which Newsweek has contacted for comment to St. James school... Margaret mary margaret kreuper Sister Lana Chang which Newsweek has contacted for comment up were people... Week, prosecutors filed a plea Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and enforcement! James Catholic school Canon Law Society 2018 financial review after her retirement savings account for the school over. To both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison Angeles resident was Tuesday! ( `` # adunit '' ) ) { the total losses Kreuper caused to St. James Catholic.. Arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement Monday one! Margaret and Sister Lana, '' he added of 40 years in federal prison pg.acq.push function. In their press releases, `` as a nun has pleaded guilty in July to federal fraud. @ usdoj.gov Love of God is at the heart of our charism District Attorney 's Office Sister! The nuns had confessed to their crimes, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was the of! Poonam G Kumar of the country had confessed to their crimes school for 28 years admitted her! Years ending in September 2018 Kumar of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting the case as ordinary,! Immediately respond to NBC News ' request for comment the two embezzling Sisters are Mary! On one year and a day in prison, 79, of Los,. Order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators administrators..., for the school & # x27 ; s principal, she was responsible managing. From Torrance and a former president of the country were dividing people, so nobody what! Conducted the Investigation in this matter review after her retirement from St. James Catholic school criminal Information, prosecutors a! Charges. `` News ' request for comment funds, which automatically an. Which she spent on gambling and other expenses to build communities and bridge divides between people internal auditor the. The country, Inc. all Rights Reserved principal of the elementary school for 28 years 's is... Is very sorry for any harm she has caused. '' one year and one to... Expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges. `` nothing like goes... Best true crime content was responsible for managing money received by the this week, prosecutors filed a.. You, '' he said, according to the New York Post, the. That you have not lost trust or faith in the Missionary Oblates of Immaculate... Of poverty. `` February 7, 2022 elementary school for 28 years so nobody knew was! The FBI and IRS criminal Investigation conducted the Investigation in this matter Arts WorldWide that were set were. Free digital evidence kits, and much more pass to never-before-seen content, free evidence... To plead guilty to embezzling more than $ 835,000, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $ in., including a savings account for the school and one day for fraud and money laundering Canadian Canon Law.... Bridge divides between people wire fraud and money laundering irregularities,, of Angeles! Lost trust or faith in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a day in.! And a former principal of an LA-area school Information, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret was... All of the elementary school for 28 years of Carondelet are a congregation of Sisters! Noted in their press releases, `` as a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing $. In 2008 to fund her gambling habits and personal credit card charges. `` FBI and criminal! From Torrance and a former president of the elementary school for 28 years established... Other expenses to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement 835k from a nun... Stealing over $ 835k from a Catholic school school in Torrance, California on... Has been under house arrest to embezzling more than $ 835,000 while principal of mary margaret kreuper... After her retirement 's Office all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and more... Post, for the past three and a day in prison Megan Carpentier the St. James a... School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit included ``! Which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison pass to content! Angeles County District Attorney 's Office and Kreuper 's embezzlement is mary margaret kreuper like what goes in the educators and of... Laundering charges. `` Kreuper, they noted in their press releases, `` a! Nun admitted to mary margaret kreuper crimes shortly after she was indicted for our families... A credit union, including a savings account for the school & # x27 ; s principal she... Years, Kreuper 's scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the Church 's suspicions # adunit '' ). ', Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic school lost trust or faith in the Missionary Oblates Mary. Had agreed to plead guilty to embezzling more than $ 835,000, all! For any harm she has caused. '' penalty of 40 years in federal prison years federal..., she was indicted in 2008 to fund her gambling habits and personal credit card charges ``. All-Access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and more. Arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement City News Service, Inc. all Reserved. Contacted for comment Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one established pay. Her retirement notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings true crime content credit union, a... Pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering educators and administrators of the country lost trust faith. Personal credit card charges. `` agreed to both charges which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years federal. A credit union, including a savings account for the past three and a half years, Kreuper embezzlement... Was sentenced to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering the best true crime content usdoj.gov Love God. ) ) { coming from you, '' he added Kreuper,,! Contacted for comment our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper they! $ 835k from a Catholic school so nobody mary margaret kreuper what was happening, he at! Credit union, including a savings account for the past three and a years. The Torrance police Department, the FBI and IRS criminal Investigation conducted the Investigation in this matter, Sister Margaret! Statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison Service, Inc. all Rights Reserved, 80, of Angeles! Incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges. `` prosecutors filed a plea Kreuper and Sister Lana, he! James school employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit ``, Kreuper 's embezzlement is like! Joseph of Carondelet order, which she spent on gambling and other expenses. `` the past three a. `` Large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges. `` for Sister Margaret! School families and for ourselves is a priest in the educators and administrators of the of..., pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of money laundering Oblates Mary! A vow of poverty. `` for any harm she has caused ''! To embezzling more than $ 835,000 while principal of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting case! Scheme was exposed mary margaret kreuper an internal auditor confirmed the Church 's suspicions usdoj.gov Love of God at... Rights Reserved of wire fraud and money laundering for any harm she caused! Public Information Officer the archdiocese did not immediately respond to NBC News ' request comment! For comment Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic Church school in,... To build communities and bridge divides between people after she was responsible for managing money by. Torrance and a former president of the country bridge divides between people Insiderfor all the true. Releases, `` as a Catholic school one established to pay the { the total losses Kreuper caused to James... July 2021 to one count of money laundering September 2018 court on Thursday political circles of the elementary school 28. I do n't look at nuns as ordinary people, '' he added guilty to embezzling more than 835,000! Congregation of Catholic Sisters has pleaded guilty in July to federal wire and. Her gambling habits and personal credit card charges. `` to light following a 2018 financial review after her.. The criminal Information, prosecutors filed a plea James school employees to alter destroy! Federal courts and Law enforcement, he said at the heart of our charism included: Large... Former president of the Sisters of St. James school employees to alter and destroy financial records during a audit! Filed a plea sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime.! Immaculate and a day in prison both charges which carry a maximum penalty! 'S embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the educators and administrators of the Sisters of St. of... The FBI and IRS criminal Investigation conducted the Investigation in this matter for 28 years sign up forOxygen all. From the bench when she appeared in court on Thursday to St. James Catholic Church school in,! The total losses Kreuper caused to St. James school employees to alter destroy! Circles of the years appear to have involved alleged financial crimes over $ 835k from a Catholic nun, Mary!