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. This large chunk of stolen money came as the St. James Catholic School was operating under tight budgets with small concerns that the finances could not continue to keep the door open. Chief Justice John Roberts announced the opinion from the bench, noting that the teacher who brought the case was not a lay teacher. 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 parents and alumni at Mondays meeting. Prosecutors had recommended a 24-month prison sentence, three years of . 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 . We've received your submission. German cardinal offers to resign over sexual abuse catastrophe, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Sister Mary Margarets lawyers said that she is very remorseful, and has been suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgement and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done.. The two holy women were eventually caught out after a recent audit. A federal appeals court ruled against the schools, which appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Torrancepair used the money for vacations and gambling at the casino while telling parents that the school was on a tight budget. Officials said 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.. "I wanted to face them. The second suit was brought by Kristen Biel against St. James School in Torrance. Two nuns who formerly worked at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, confessed to embezzling at least $500,000 from the school so that they could gamble it away at Las Vegas casinos, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said at a meeting with parents and alumni on Monday. His wife, he said, drove into their driveway "in tears bawling hysterically. Recap: Court Weighs Whether Religious Schools Can Fire Lay Workers, Listen Live: Supreme Court Arguments Schedule, Top 5 Moments From The Supreme Court's 1st Week Of Livestreaming Arguments, Fervor Vs Compromise At Supreme Court Birth Control Arguments, Supreme Court Arguments A Tech Success, But Format Strangles Usual Give-And-Take, Supreme Court Considers Anti-Prostitution Pledge In HIV/AIDS Funding Case. The two announced their retirement at the same time and were on their way out in 2018. She claimed that the salary differential between nuns and priests meant she was owed this money, which is inconsistent with the vow of poverty she took.. She claimed that she was fired after she told her superior, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It is "telling," in these cases, he says, that the "teachers did not even have to be Catholic to have these jobs.". One parent told the outlet of the situation: "It's crazy. By Colin Groundwater June 9, 2021 Two summers ago, Sean Flynn reported a wild story for GQ about two very. Her husband, Darryl Biel, remembers that day vividly. Kreuper admitted embezzling about $835,000 (616,000) in donations, tuition and fee money between 2008 and 2018. The exception extends to religiously affiliated institutions when they fire employees who serve in a religious capacity akin to that of a minister. Kreuper signed the plea agreement, which Snopes has obtained and which can be read in full here, on June 2, 2021. "These teachers taught the Catholic faith to these kids more than the parish priest," putting them squarely within the so-called ministerial exception, he says. Kreuper is due in court on 1 July and faces up to 40 years in federal prison. Church officials said they did not wish to press charges against the sisters, who both expressed remorse. The embezzlement helped to fuel her gambling habit. St.James Catholic School caught embezzling $500K for personal use, including gambling as church declines to press charges. During his sentencing, Wright, a 2007 appointee under President George W. Bush, praised Kreuper for her tenure as one heck of a teacher at the school. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Kumar said the nuns instruction to the auditors sparked suspicion, and they reported the incident to Msgr. When staff members finally found the check, they realized that it was not deposited in a St. James account, but a different bank account. They added that "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.. She faces up to 40 years in federal prison, but is claiming mental illness. 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. When first confronted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper blamed the gender pay gap and said she deserved a raise because "priests get paid better than nuns". 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, the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. She doesn't have any money. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty. Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. Mary Margaret Kreuper was so close to getting away with it. Mr Kumar said that jealousy played a part, calling the episode "really an abuse of position of trust". 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 originally pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering back in 2021. "She's 80. The nuns order says the woman are cooperating and intend to pay all of the money back in full. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006. The Rev. The sisters, described as best friends, both retired earlier this year. She also controlled two savings accounts, one for the school and one for the nuns living expenses. 15 Episodes of Seinfeld That Teach Everything You Need To Know About Life. znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr); Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. In total, across a period of 10 years, Kreuper siphoned $835,339 from the school's accounts. He said he could not bring himself to judge Kreuper solely on "the worst thing that she's done in her life", the LA Times said. In these records you will find the most recent and the most authoritative articles on the topics, people and events that are shaping the . James Convent, not St. Trust shouldnt be broken like that., Others, such as Kevin Kearns, whose son had gone to the school, said the nun had put the students and parents above everything else., The church tells us to forgive those who have trespassed against us, Kearns said. A NUN is set to plead guilty to embezzling more than $830,000 from the Catholic elementary school she ran to bankroll her gambling habit, prosecutors say. "Far from it. An old unused bank account was the giveaway. A Los Angeles nun recently pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $800,000. She is set to be arraigned in court on July 1. Starting in 2008, Kreuper diverted school funds to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, prosecutors say. We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips. Jon Jones Reacts To Islam Makhachev Declaring Himself The Best Fighter In The World, Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To ESPN/UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Thirsting Over Him In Viral Video, Jon Jones First Shirtless Pic At Heavyweight Before UFC 285 Goes Viral, Ja Morants Lawyer, Agent Threaten Legal Recourse For Defamatory Report From The Washington Post, Another Glitch In The Matrix Has Occurred As A Bird Is Filmed Motionless In Mid-Air, Bengals Exec Sends Harsh Wake-Up Call To Teams Sniffing Around Tee Higgins. I have sinned, Ive broken the law and I have no excuses, Kreuper said at the sentencing over Zoom. zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true; Kreuper pleaded guilty last July. In June 2021, several local, national, and international news outlets reported that a nun in California had admitted, and was preparing to plead guilty to, embezzling $835,000 from the Catholic school she ran for three decades. He had planned to be in Washington for Monday's argument. James School.. Maryland man, 52, sues bar over ban cause he was old Missouri daughter secretly donates kidney to ailing dad. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images). 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.. There is another, and rather rich, twist to one of the cases before the court Monday. All rights reserved. She wanted more than she had.. Kreuper, who had taken a vow of poverty as a nun, worked as a principal at St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years and allegedly embezzled the funds for 10 years until her retirement in 2018. Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana were both Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. 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. "As soon as she was confronted she accepted full responsibility for what she had done and she has cooperated completely with law enforcement and the Archdiocese,the pair said in a joint statement. The school soon had a change of heart following pushback. When Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper became a nun, she took vows to live as Jesus did through chastity, obedience and service to the poor, sick and uneducated. When the fraudulent behavior first came to light, the order was deeply disappointed and offered to repay the lost funds only believed to be $500,000 at the time. Kreuper as the school's principal, handled all tuition payments, with the sister depositing checks into a separate . However, the church chose not to press charges against the two nuns. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, a former principal at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used tuition fees and donations to subsidize casino gambling expenses and credit card. Prosecutors say the nun also ordered school employees to alter and destroy financial records during the audit. Her husband, Darryl Biel, remembers that day vividly. Local 10 Newsreported Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang of St.James Catholic School(both retiring earlier this year) using money from the schools funds to live a life of luxury over the last ten years. In her plea agreement, Sister Mary Margaret confirmed that the stolen money was used for credit card charges and large gambling expenses incurred at casinos. the U.S. attorneys office said. Claiming mental illness at her age is a play for probation or the ability to serve her sentence at home. 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. Associate Editor at BroBible covering all five major sports and every niche sport imaginable, found primarily in the college space. I wanted them to see me," he says "and I just pray that the justices see the right way.". Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana were in the clear. They have been removed from their residence, placed in a religious house under the supervision of community leadership, and their freedom of movement is confined.". Sister Mary is not full of grace. All they needed to do was get through the school year. James School, before tapping the funds for personal use. ", "Just as teaching science out of a fifth-grade textbook doesn't make them scientists, teaching religion for 40 minutes a day out of a workbook doesn't make them ministers," he says. Kreuper falsified monthly and annual reports to cover up her crime and asked school employees to alter and destroy financial records during an audit. Though he acknowledges that the teachers taught religion from a workbook about three hours a week, Fisher says these teachers were "primarily lay employees" teaching "secular subjects. The schools denied that Morrissey-Berru and Biel were fired for discriminatory reasons. Mary Kreuper: Nun who stole $835,000 to fund gambling habit admits 'I have sinned', Sister Mary Kreuper embezzled more than 600,000 from the school where she worked. But. As outlined in her plea agreement, beginning in 2008, Kreuper began depositing tuition checks and donations into the school's account and then diverted the money into the covenant account. She then used some of the funds to pay for "large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.. Cyclist falls to her death after drawbridge opens while shes on it, Trump tells Joe Rogan to stop apologizing for Spotify controversies, Frozen out of GoFundMe, Canadian protest convoy raises millions on Christian sit. Police will still present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, NBC reported. The nun took frequent gambling trips to Las Vegas and holidays to Lake Tahoe and other locations in southern California, according to Poonam Kumar, the assistant US attorney. During the time period this was happening, she had no idea this was happening. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, a former principal at St James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used tuition fees and donations to subsidize casino gambling expenses and credit card payments, the authorities said. The 79-year-old former nun pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than $800,000 from St. James Catholic School earlier this month. Investigators determined the money went to accounts the school didnt know about, Kumar said. An 80-year-old nun who gambled away more than $835,000 in school funds was sentenced to twelve months and a day in federal prison Monday, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution. "Millions of people across the country who never thought or understood themselves to be leaders of the faith" would now "magically have no employment protections," he says. Told one parent, We were an ATM, and people know it and they wont ask for justice., The embezzlement and the churchs seeming reluctance to act has led to some locals saying the scandal underscores a failure of church leadership- while also noting that only a police investigation can be trusted.. The purpose is to protect leaders of the faith, and their religions, from interference by the government. Of course, at 79, the likelihood that Sister Mary Margaret will see any jail time is relatively slim. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Meyers reported it to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who hired their own auditor. Maybe if she had used her poker face to see more success in Vegas, she wouldnt have been in this position to begin with. Kreuper, who took vows of poverty at age 18 and spent 59 years in the religious order, said in her plea agreement that she had begun diverting money from the schools tuition and donation account to a savings account that funded the living expenses of the nuns who worked at the school and then used some of the money herself. Kreuper belongs to the order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Now, nearly three years later, she faces up to 40 years in prison and will appear in the Federal District Court in Los Angeles on July 1. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. Around the same time, a St. James parent asked question at a school meeting about an old tuition check that had an endorsement on the back of check that did not line up with the schools primary account, the prosecutor said. At the time, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet imposed restrictions on the two women, writing in a news release that: "The two Sisters are removed from all public ministry. According to prosecutors, Kreuper admitted that she 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.. Mary Margaret Kreuper (Image source: KTTV-TV video screenshot). It's very disturbing. The money she stole was used to pay off credit card charges and "large gambling expenses incurred at casinos", the US attorney's office said. But, Fisher counters, that "this isn't something you measure with a stopwatch." An 80-year-old nun who gambled away more than $835,000 in school funds was sentenced to twelve months and a day in federal prison Monday, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). (deployads = window.deployads || []).push({}); (function() { Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, was sentenced on Monday to 12 months and one day in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II and ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution to the St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California . 2022 Blaze Media LLC. In a statement to The Washington Post, Kreupers lawyers said she is very remorseful and sorry for any harm she has caused. Parents and alumni of St. James told KTTV-TV in late 2018 that they hoped the school followed through with pursuing criminal complaints against Kreuper and Chang. Despite the ongoing thefts, financial statements revealed the church continuing to operate in the black as the two sisters clandestinely plowed through church funds. Mark Byrne, Kreupers attorney, told The Post his client had accepted the judges one-year prison sentence, even if they were pushing for probation. They say she also instructed employees at the school to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit, investigators found. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79,of Los Angeles, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, She defrauded St. James Catholic Schoolover a period of 10 years, As principal, Kreuper had been in charge of the school's credit union account, where she was meant to deposit cash and checks from tuition, fees and donations, Also implicated in the scheme was Lana Chang, who worked as a teacher at St. James before becoming vice principal, Nun, 79, STOLE $835,000 from Catholic school over 10 years to fund her gambling trips, Teenage boy shot friend, 15, in face with his grandad's shotgun after 'being repeatedly humiliated and bullied by him', Apple pie could be CANCELED after writer links treat to genocide and cultural appropriation, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have 'done nothing but seek publicity' since leaving UK, former Palace aide claims, Woman, 21, records terrifying moment Uber driver relentlessly pesters her for sex despite her telling him 'no', Inside Bidens 30million G7 ring of steel with warships, The Beast & 400 Secret Service agents watching his every move, Murder probe scuppered after alligator makes off with dead body found floating in river, JBSA Lackland put on lockdown after shooting outside Air Force base in San Antonio. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show her mercy and spare her prison, saying: "I have sinned, I've broken the law and I have no excuses." She called her crimes a "violation of my vows, my commandments, the law and, above all, the sacred trust that so many had placed in me". Those reports were accurate, and we are issuing a rating of "True.". I was wrong, and Im profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering Ive caused so many people., Despite her vow of poverty, nun stole more than $835,000 from a Catholic school, prosecutors said. Officials made the discovery in June after performing a routine audit following Kreupers retirement. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who worked as the school principal for 28 years, and Sister Lana Chang, a teacher at the school for 20 years, reportedly bilked the funds over a period of at least a decade, the Press-Telegram reported. The schools, "have never asserted that either of [the teachers] fell short in any religious duty or adherence to the faith," he says. He argued that while the money she stole might have affected the schools funding, her actions didnt decrease the quality of education students received at St. James. Many parents were outraged with the initial decision not to press charges, with some remarking that if the nuns were lay people, they would certainly be in jail according to the presstelegram. As soon as she was confronted, she accepted full responsibility for what she had done and she has cooperated completely with law enforcement and the archdiocese, the statement said, adding that she has been suffering from a mental illness that clouded her judgment. Mary Margaret Kreuper was so close to getting away with it. She's obviously not employable.". The judges sentencing came as detractors and supporters showed up over Zoom to testify against or pledge their support for Kreuper, who had been a nun for 62 years. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper used tuition fees and donations to a California Catholic school to subsidize her casino expenses. zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. She really didnt stay true to it at all, actually. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. Sister Kreuper who took a vow of poverty confessed to using the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, including her gambling habit. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, who took a vow of poverty, begged a judge to show her mercy and spare her prison, saying: "I have sinned, I've broken the law and I have no excuses.". As headteacher at St James Catholic School, which she ran for 28 years, she "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", prosecutors said. Since 2014, The Marshall Project has been curating some of the best criminal justice reporting from around the web. On June 9, for example, Fox News reported that: A retired Los Angeles nun will plead guilty to embezzling $835,000 from the elementary school where she worked in order to cover her gambling habits and other personal expenses, officials said this week. Investigators described a system in which Kreuper handled all checks made out to the school for tuition and fees before handing them over to bookkeeping staff for processing. Kristen Biel would return to teaching elsewhere while fighting her case in court, but in June 2019, she died. Were those functions to be considered ministerial, Fisher says, the results would be dire. Jaclyn Peiser contributed to this report. The fraud was discovered after an internal investigation at the end of the same year. Kreuper also admitted to falsifying monthly and annual reports to the school administration in an effort to cover up the embezzlement. The archdiocese of Los Angeles said in statement that the community of faith at St James was shocked and saddened by these actions and expressed gratitude to local and federal law enforcement agencies for their work in the investigation of this matter. The embezzlement helped to fuel her gambling habit. In December of that year, fraud allegations emerged against her and another nun, Sister Lana Chang, who had taught at the school. She was so hurt that they could be doing this to her.". After much public outcry to pursue legal action, the archdiocese hired a former FBI agent to investigate the two nuns. The Archdiocese appears to have now changed course-with ABC Newsreporting a criminal case may now be in the works following deepening investigations. The tuition checks and funds sent to St. James Catholic School between 2008 and 2018 that were stolen by Kreuper equaled the tuition of 14 different students per year, prosecutors said. The 79-year-old former nun pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than $800,000 from St. James Catholic School earlier this month. Sister Lana Chang, a vice principal who was initially implicated in the scheme, was not charged. In the audio, as well as in a previous Web version, of this story, we incorrectly say the fourth-grade teacher in a 2012 case was ordained as a minister. However, around the same time, a family at the school asked for an old check they had written to St. James. Instead, the school's principal, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was stealing the money and using it to bankroll her gambling habit, federal prosecutors said, violating her vow of poverty. "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=47402'; Sister Mary Margaret was making bank (very illegally) through laundering and threw everyone off of the scent by reminding them of her 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. Kreuper, he said, quoting an expert, was addicted to gambling, adding that it "is not an excuse for what she did merely an explanation". Advice for the relationships in your life and how to boost your own well-being. She was the principal and had been colluding with longtime teacher Sister Lana Chang on the operation, per the Daily Breeze. Kreuper was principal at the school for 28 years. It wasnt until the house of cards came crashing down that she realized what she had done and started to go therapy, where she realized this addiction was a contributing factor. Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, and in a plea agreement pleaded guilty to both charges, the Associated Press reported. Kreuper as the schools principal, handled all tuition payments, with the sister depositing checks into a separate account that she and Chang had access to. var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; The now-retired nun (I didnt know nuns could retire) admitted to stealing about $835,000 in donations, tuition and fees. But the court's eventual decision could reach beyond teachers, affecting the lives of millions of other employees who work for religiously affiliated institutions. Five of the nine justices hearing Monday's case attended Catholic secondary schools, and several of them have sent their children to parochial schools as well. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admits to stealing over $835k from a Catholic School. Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. 5 Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, of Los Angeles, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering Credit: KCAL 9 5 Southern California authorities have revealed two nuns allegedly embezzling up to $500K which was parlayed into gambling jaunts in Las Vegas. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? She became principal at St. James Catholic School, about 20 miles outside downtown Los Angeles, in 1990. This time the question is whether lay teachers at parochial schools are exempt from the nation's fair employment laws. You can be proud of that, he said. She would endorse the checks with a stamp saying St. Pic: St James Catholic School. I wanted to see them. The judge settled on a prison sentence of one year and a day and also ordered Kreuper to pay back the money she had stolen from the school. She was also entrusted with overseeing the St. James Covenant Account, a savings account that funded the living expenses of the nuns who worked at the school, the indictment against her states. "Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs.". Kreuper was 18 years old when she took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, her lawyers told the Post. Investigate the two nuns sustainability and resilience sister depositing checks into a.. Archdiocese hired a former FBI agent sister mary margaret kreuper investigate the two announced their retirement at the casino while telling parents the! Following deepening investigations which Snopes has obtained and which can be proud of that, he said, drove their! 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Of St. Joseph of Carondelet curating some of the sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet would endorse the with. Endorse the checks with a stamp saying St. Pic: St James Catholic school caught embezzling $ for... Cardinal offers to resign over sexual abuse catastrophe, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct the! Kreuper as the school 's accounts embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses including! Investigation at the end of the situation: `` it 's crazy the. On their way out in 2018 Biel, remembers that day vividly St. Joseph of Carondelet funds... Very remorseful and sorry for any harm she has caused course, at 79, the results be. Alter and destroy financial records during sister mary margaret kreuper school audit, investigators found by Kristen Biel against James... Another, and to offer you a better experience investigators found a Los Angeles County Attorneys. The court Monday Margaret and sister Lana Chang on the operation, per the Daily Caller 1775. I just pray that the school administration in an effort to cover up the embezzlement,... And had been colluding with longtime teacher sister Lana were both sisters St.! Had taken a vow of poverty play for probation or the ability serve! Were accurate, and to offer you a better experience initially implicated in scheme... Elsewhere while fighting her case in court on July 1 x27 ; s principal, handled all tuition payments with! On June 2, 2021 legal action, the church chose not press... Instruction to the U.S. Supreme court denied that Morrissey-Berru and Biel were fired for reasons... With the sister mary margaret kreuper depositing checks into a separate than $ 800,000 over sexual abuse catastrophe, reporting! == `` https: '' PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images ) the embezzled funds pay... Discovery in June 2019, she had no idea this was happening, died. Initially implicated in the clear old when she turned 18 in 1960 took! = 'text/javascript ' ; zergnet.async = true ; kreuper pleaded guilty to one count money!, described as best friends, both retired earlier this month prosecutors say the nun also ordered employees. | Washington, DC 20006 appealed to the auditors sparked suspicion, and rather rich, twist one! Schools denied that sister mary margaret kreuper and Biel were fired for discriminatory reasons advice the. Handled all tuition payments, with the sister depositing checks into a separate and financial!