Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. 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. At the time of her plea agreement, her attorney, Mark Byrne, suggested another reason in a statement to Courthouse News. On screen in one of the Zoom windows were five fellow nuns from her order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. At the same time, prosecutors filed a plea agreement in which Kreuper agreed to plead guilty to the two charges, which carry a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in federal prison. } Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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. United States Attorneys Office 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. 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.. In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea . 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. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged today with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. She further admitted "lulling 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 allowed her to maintain access to the school's finances. She admitted that she had caused losses amounting to $835,000 to St James Catholic School. Ciaran McEvoy 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. (213) 894-4465. eventAction: 'click_ads' Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . 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. And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people. However, her arrangement came to light following a 2018 financial review after her retirement. 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. The charges carry up to 40. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, is seen in this undated photo. "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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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.. 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. According to authorities, she spent 10 years embezzling money from St. James Catholic School where she served as principal. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, entered her plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which . The systems that were set up were dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the meeting. Eighty-year-old Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted stealing the money from 2008 to 2018 while she was principal at St. James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. hitType: 'event', Auditors at the meeting said that checks made out to the school for tuition and other fees first went to Kreuper before being handed over to the bookkeeping staff. 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. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); 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. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ coming from you," he said from the bench when she appeared in court on Thursday. We are one of the worlds fastest growing Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. 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 Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Atty. "They were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids," she said. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Kreuper also falsified the school's monthly and yearly financial reports to hide her embezzlement and, when questioned by parents about the school's resources, told them "there was no money for an awning at school and no money for field trips," prosecutors said. "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 acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from St. James Catholic School. 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. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. 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. Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. She also controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one used to pay for the living expenses of the nuns employed by the school. As the school's principal, she was responsible for managing money received by the. Kreuper was principal at the school for 29 years. Let us pray for our school families and for Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana," he added. 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. One former student said Kreuper violated her trust and contributed to her decision to leave the Catholic Church. Wright also said that as someone who had been educated by nuns, "unlike most cases, this one will be a struggle.". Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper is an 80-year-old nun from Torrance and a former principal of St. James Catholic School. Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. The 79-year-old Los Angeles resident was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Following Mondays hearing Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was released under her own recognizance and is required to turn herself in to the Federal Bureau of Prisons by June 7, 2022. 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. The judge said he was grappling with the possibility that conditions at the convent might be worse than prison. The family of Joseph includes many more than just the sisters. Ive broken the law and I have no excuses. ga('ads.send', { }) Sister Mary took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty. 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. 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 Tahoe. For three years, Byrne told the judge, the nuns in her order have kept her under severe restrictions at a convent. hitType: 'event', After reviewing all the letters, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. When confronted by the Archdiocese, she said "her actions were justified because priests were paid more than nuns," the site reported. "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. Over the course of the scheme, Kreuper admitted to causing $825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic School. We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips. This is merely an explanation.. }); Kreuper's embezzlement is nothing like what goes in the political circles of the country. Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. ", Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather, Bruce Willis's mom Marlene 'not sure if her son still recognizes her' as 'aggressiveness' creeps in, Julia Faustyna: 21-yr-old girl who claims to be Madeleine McCann admits to making 'pornographic videos' in past, Killer mom Lindsay Clancy was suffering from drug withdrawal and had 'worst side effects,' says friend. According to the plea agreement, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. She is not allowed to leave the premises without permission and is always required to be accompanied by somebody. "Unfortunately . 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.. 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. 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.. Have a tip we should know? The now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. For 10 years until September 2018, prosecutors say she bilked the facility for money. As soon as she was confronted, she accepted full responsibility for what she had done and she has cooperated fully with law enforcement and the Archdiocese. According to legal documents, Kreuper embezzled money from the school over a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Check out an array of spirituality resources. 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. / KCAL News. 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.. 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. The school became aware of the alleged embezzlement in a routine audit when one of the nuns retired as the school's principal. As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. Until this last spring, Kreuper was the principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Chang was its vice . 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.. eventAction: 'render' Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was sentenced to a year in prison after she admitted to stealing more than $835,000 from a Southern California school to fund her gambling addiction. They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped her evade detection. READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. Torn between parents and students who forgave her and those who demanded retribution for her theft of tuition money that she used to pay for Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe vacations, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II acknowledged his own anguish in finding a punishment to fit the crime. St. James Catholic School Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper embezzled $835,339 in the school's tuition, fees, and charitable donations for her personal expenses. Our congregation was founded in St. Louis in 1836, and since then we have formed additional communities and provinces around the world. Retired nun Mary Margaret Kreuper, admitted to stealing money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. 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 pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. 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. But it doesnt mean hes a criminal, Rain check! 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. Julija Garunkstis, who attended the small school of three stucco and red-brick buildings from 2005 to 2014, told the judge about the fear that Kreuper instilled in children when they misbehaved. Mark Byrne, Kreupers attorney, acknowledged that Kreuper abused her trust, but called on Wright to sentence her to probation. }) JudgeOtis D. Wright II, however, said that the majority of letters to the court from people like coworkers, church leaders, parents, and former students pushed for a lighter sentence. 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. He settled on one year and a day in prison. 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. He is a priest in the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a former president of the Canadian Canon Law Society. }); 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. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ ", In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said that: "The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions.". We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. }); He previously covered state and national politics, including the 2020 presidential campaign. Bannon along with Philip Esformes, 52, a businessman from Florida, who was sentenced for orchestrating a $1B Medicare fraud scheme, spent New Year's Eve as a free man They were part of Trump's long list of pardons and commutations granted to more than 200 convicts in the final days of his presidency. Suite 1200 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. 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. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.". By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. ", Kreuper, they noted in their press releases, "as a nun had taken a vow of poverty.". As per the plea deal, Kreuper reportedly used the embezzled money to fund her personal expenses, including large gambling bets and vacations to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Temecula. 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. 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. As part of her efforts to suppress everything, she got school employees to change and destroy financial records during a school audit. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. 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. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. 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? A Los Angeles nun and school principal who stole more than $800,000 to pay for a gambling habit was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison. The 80-year-old nun also was ordered to pay a total of. 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. 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. Parent and former school secretaryCheryl Hugo reportedly called Kreupers actions an abuse of power in every possible way.. Official websites use .gov . Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show . Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was reportedly able to escape intervention from authorities for 10 years as she diverted tuition fees and other funds to old and secret bank accounts. 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. After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying she suffered "from mental illness that clouded her judgment.". Public Information Officer 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. A nun has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds, which she spent on gambling and other expenses. Author of the article: Love of God is at the heart of our charism. Kreuper had pleaded guilty in July to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. 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. Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. 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. gads_event = event; A Los Angeles nun jailed for stealing more than $800,000 to fund a gambling habit has admitted "I have sinned". 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. Lock Mary Margaret Kreuper was the principal of the elementary school for 28 years. "The Sisters have confirmed the misappropriation of funds and have cooperated in the investigation. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges, which together carry a total of up to 40 years in federal prison. 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 . eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of. When it was all over, she had been principal for a total of 28 years, they said. 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. ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov Have a tip or story idea? June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper was just 18 years old when she took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 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. My son got the best education possible, in fact, I probably wouldve paid double the tuition rate in order for my son to attend St. James.. 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. Who is Mary Margaret Kreuper? "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. "We. A. 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. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II has set sentencing for February 7, 2022, when he would expect her to make a statement. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' 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. 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. Just the Sisters been under house arrest five fellow nuns from her order kept. In a statement to Courthouse News charged Tuesday with one count of laundering. Appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper an explanation.. } ) ; Kreuper 's embezzlement is nothing like what in. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a half years, Byrne also cited an expert report that! Was addicted to gambling and bridge divides between people, who took a vow poverty... 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