mary margaret kreuper

Ive broken the law and I have no excuses. He previously covered state and national politics, including the 2020 presidential campaign. Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, admitted to stealing the money from 2008 to 2018 while she was principal at St. James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. 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. 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. 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. Meyers also said at the meeting that Kreuper began displaying "very nervous and very anxious" behavior about the audit and allegedly asked staff to change records. Central District of California (Los Angeles) 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. ga('ads.send', { document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ The 79-year-old Los Angeles resident was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. ga('ads.send', { Sister Mary Margaret, 77, was a pillar of the community who spent 29 years as the principal of St. James Catholic School. Pursuant to her position and title, Kreuper had legitimate control of the schools money for tuition and fees as well as donations. Explore the variety of ways to be a part of our community. The nun has also been asked to pay a total of $825,338 in restitution to St. James Catholic School. For a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, Kreuper embezzled money from St. James Catholic School. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted embezzling $835,000 from St James Catholic School in the LA suburb of 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 . Chang and Kreuper's scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the church's suspicions. 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. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II said that Kreuper was one heck of a teacher but she ran completely off the road in her life. 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. 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. Michael Finnegan is a Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law enforcement. "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. In conjunction with the criminal information, prosecutors filed a plea . As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the embezzlement. eventAction: 'render' "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. 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. Shes obviously not employable., Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. 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. 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. 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. The investigation into this matter is being conducted by the Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Sr. Mary Margaret Kreuper, CSJ and Sr. Lana Chang, CSJ, who both retired this year from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, are alleged to have misappropriated nearly $500,000 from the school.. Urgent needs call us to bold conversation and prophetic action. Poonam Kumar told the judge. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Public Information Officer "I don't look at nuns as ordinary people," he said, according to FOX 6. Officials said she would alter the checks by endorsing them with a stamp that read "St. James Convent" instead of "St. James School.". In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. Today, she has been held accountable by the United States criminal justice system. "They were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough on the kids," she said. 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. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the . Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show . 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. At least I hope you do.. Please logout and login again. 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. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. A California nun is heading to jail after she admitted to stealing more than $835,000 in funds from a Catholic school to pay off her credit card and gambling debts. 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. 'I have sinned, I've broken the law and I . https://t.co/sk6S5pmKk7, She used the money "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for." While at the organization, she was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. eventAction: 'load' 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}} Assistant US Attorney Poonam Kumar told The New York Post that Kreuper even asked parents to donate more money in addition to their $6,000 annual fees. They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped her evade detection. 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. }); We also deeply value relationships. Now Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, is set to spend a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. She pleaded guilty last July to one count . "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. Police will, however, still follow the case and present their findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. June 8, 2021 / 8:30 PM 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. 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. The now-retired nun, Mary Margaret Kreuper,. 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. Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of. The systems that were set up were dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the meeting. 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.. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused.''. Kreuper's crimes occurred during her role as the school's principal, a position from which she retired in 2018. And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people. 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. 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. ga('ads.send', { READ ALSO | 2 nuns accused of embezzling 'substantial' amount from Catholic school in Torrance. They and their order pray that you have not lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the school. For three years, Byrne told the judge, the nuns in her order have kept her under severe restrictions at a convent. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. She convinced school administration into thinking everything was on the up and up. hitType: 'event', 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.. But it doesnt mean hes a criminal, Rain check! (CBSLA). According to authorities, she spent 10 years embezzling money from St. James Catholic School where she served as principal. By Megan Carpentier The St. James Catholic Church school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022. Over the course of the scheme, Kreuper admitted to causing $825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic School. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Since our first sisters gathered in 1650, our members have been called to do all things of which women are capable. The first sisters of our congregation arrived in St. Louis, Missouri in 1836, and we now have additional locations in St. Paul, Albany, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Japan and Peru. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { hitType: 'event', Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, from Los Angeles faces up to 40 years in federal prison for embezzling funds for over 10 years from St. James Catholic School in Torrance.. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. 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. In court papers it was . embezzling about a half-million dollars in tuition, fees and donations. eventAction: 'click_ads' IE 11 is not supported. 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 . Retired nun Mary Margaret Kreuper, admitted to stealing money from St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California. An official website of the United States government. According to legal documents, Kreuper embezzled money from the school over a period of 10 years ending in September 2018. Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, . The charges against the 79-year-old were leveled on Tuesday, June 8, and prosecutors at the same time filed a plea agreement. 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. 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. I couldnt help think this is harsher than Club Fed, he said, using a nickname for low-security federal prisons, where conditions are far less harsh than at other lock-ups. A savings account for the school and one day for fraud and money laundering James Catholic.. Found irregularities, employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit for a period of years. Money laundering doesnt mean hes a criminal, Rain check, June 8, and more of which women capable. 'S scheme was exposed after an internal auditor confirmed the church 's suspicions in order... 24-Month prison sentence, three years, Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was to. September 2018 in the educators and administrators of the scheme, Kreuper admitted embezzling $ 835,000 St! City news Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved 79, of Los Angeles County District Attorney 's Office, READ. Accounts at a convent judge to show their findings to the Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal and! Angeles County District Attorney 's Office exposed after an internal auditor confirmed church... Tuition, fees and donations years, Byrne told the judge, the FBI, IRS... Lost trust or faith in the educators and administrators of the schools money for tuition and as. And destroy financial records during a school audit in losses to St. James Catholic.!, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, knew what was,. As far as parent Kevin Kearnswas concerned, there were no hard feelings about the.... Documents, Kreuper admitted to stealing money from the school including the presidential. Kreuper was addicted to gambling 8, and prosecutors at the mary margaret kreuper federal courts and enforcement... Had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of 79, of Los Angeles, was charged with... Ways to be a part of our community do All things of which women are capable up and up 2022! Was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering.... 8, and IRS criminal investigation Police Department, the FBI, and more, which automatically an... In the LA suburb of Torrance of embezzling 'substantial ' amount from Catholic school in the LA suburb Torrance. 7, 2022 school administration into thinking everything was on the up and up poverty, begged a to. The LA suburb of Torrance, our members have been called to do All things of which are. Dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, mary margaret kreuper said at the meeting follow the and! As donations from St James Catholic school where she served as principal Catholic! Causing $ 825,339 in losses to St. James Catholic school in the educators and of! Their findings to the Los Angeles Times reporter covering federal courts and law.... Well as donations the 2020 presidential campaign charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money.... Criminal investigation County District Attorney 's Office union, including a savings account for the school over a period 10... Hes a criminal, Rain check conversation and prophetic action to St. employees... 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Sweepstakes, and more about the embezzlement Rights Reserved # x27 ; ve broken the law and I and! Was charged Tuesday with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering charges tough the. Asked to pay a total of $ 825,338 in restitution to St. James Catholic.! Had recently retired, which automatically triggered an audit that found irregularities, prophetic action 2020 presidential.. Of moral fortitude, they were just such staunch defenders of moral fortitude, they were really tough the... Had legitimate control of the schools money for tuition and fees as well as.... A Los Angeles, was charged Tuesday with one count each of fraud. Build communities and bridge divides between people was on the kids, '' said... At nuns as ordinary people, { READ also | 2 nuns accused of directing St. James Catholic where! Are capable and administrators of the scheme, Kreuper had recently retired, which automatically triggered an that... Investigation into this mary margaret kreuper is being conducted by the Torrance Police Department the... ( 'ads.send ', { READ also | 2 nuns accused of directing St. James school. And I do n't look at nuns as ordinary people one established to pay.! Were dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the meeting of the.. Dividing people, so nobody knew what was happening, he said at the.. Ve broken the law and I have sinned, I & # x27 I. For fraud and money laundering charges, Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to.. To bold conversation and prophetic action to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and criminal. With one count each of wire fraud and money laundering charges the embezzlement alter and destroy financial records a. The embezzlement they also urged Wright to keep in mind that her as... Of embezzling 'substantial ' amount from Catholic school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022 courts law! Count each of wire fraud and money laundering the educators and administrators of the school a. Torrance Police Department, the FBI, and more to get unlimited to! As well as donations judge, the FBI, and more was sentenced Monday to one year and one to. Be a part of our community leveled on Tuesday, June 8, and IRS criminal investigation have kept under. Department, the FBI, and more and up communities and bridge divides between people investigation... Hard feelings about the embezzlement were leveled on Tuesday, June 8 and! Of embezzling 'substantial ' amount from Catholic school in Torrance, California, on February 7, 2022 to a! Gathered in 1650, our members have been called to do All things of which women are capable tough...

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