Apparently, the Vegas trips were common knowledge, but the nuns explained that the gambling excursions were gifts from a rich uncle. During the time period this was happening, she had no idea this was happening. Sister Mary is not full of grace. Kreuper as the school's principal, handled all tuition payments, with the sister depositing checks into a separate . All rights reserved. Pic: St James Catholic School. The Archdiocese appears to have now changed course-with ABC Newsreporting a criminal case may now be in the works following deepening investigations. 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 Privacy Policy. Were those functions to be considered ministerial, Fisher says, the results would be dire. She admitted to taking a total of $835,000 in donations from the elementary school, and faces up to 40 years in federal prison. 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 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. Kreuper falsified monthly and annual reports to cover up her crime and asked school employees to alter and destroy financial records during an audit. 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. Kreuper, he said, quoting an expert, was addicted to gambling, adding that it "is not an excuse for what she did merely an explanation". In total, across a period of 10 years, Kreuper siphoned $835,339 from the school's accounts. Kreuper was principal at the school for 28 years. Each of the counts carries a maximum sentence of 40 years behind bars. Maryland man, 52, sues bar over ban cause he was old Missouri daughter secretly donates kidney to ailing dad. 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. But when it came to the vow of poverty, the Southern California nun struggled to maintain her promise to the Catholic Church because of a gambling addiction that was out of control for a decade. She then used some of the funds to pay for "large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.. Ultimately, "they are not people we understand to be spiritual leaders of the church.". Meyers reported it to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who hired their own auditor. But she appreciates the outpouring of support shes received from people who have decided that rather to judge her on these actions toward the end of her career and life, theyve taken her whole life into consideration.. But they asserted that the courts should dismiss the cases because the teachers were essentially ministers, and thus were not protected under the federal employment laws. Kreuper, who pleaded guilty last summer to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II to pay more than $825,000 in restitution. 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. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. 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. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day for fraud and money laundering charges. 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. It's very disturbing. However, around the same time, a family at the school asked for an old check they had written to St. James. The now-retired nun (I didnt know nuns could retire) admitted to stealing about $835,000 in donations, tuition and fees. "Requiring a church to accept or retain an unwanted minister or punishing a church for failing to do so intrudes upon more than a mere employment decision," Roberts said. She became principal at St. James Catholic School, about 20 miles outside downtown Los Angeles, in 1990. In 2012, the Supreme Court sought to answer that question, agreeing unanimously that a fourth-grade teacher who was commissioned as a minister could not sue over her firing by a Lutheran school. 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.. ", Church says nuns embezzled from SoCal school to cover Vegas gambling tripswww.youtube.com. 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 . 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. She was the principal and had been colluding with longtime teacher Sister Lana Chang on the operation, per the Daily Breeze. Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Lana were both Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. But this week, prosecutors said Sister Mary Margaret, 79, had agreed to plead guilty to stealing more than. St.James Catholic School caught embezzling $500K for personal use, including gambling as church declines to press charges. When this was going on, she was not nearly as old. (RNS) Recently Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, a Catholic nun who stole $835,000 from a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, California, was sent to prison for a year and ordered to pay the . Kristen Biel would return to teaching elsewhere while fighting her case in court, but in June 2019, she died. 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. The rich uncle was the parents of the St. James students.. 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. Sister Mary Margaret became a nun when she turned 18 in 1960 and took a vow of poverty. Kreuper did not recognize she had a gambling problem until she was accused of embezzling more than $835,000 from the school, Byrne said. Kreuper signed the plea agreement, which Snopes has obtained and which can be read in full here, on June 2, 2021. When first confronted, Mr Kumar said, the nun claimed she "did it in part because she believes priests get paid better than nuns". The Torrancepair used the money for vacations and gambling at the casino while telling parents that the school was on a tight budget. 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. The purpose is to protect leaders of the faith, and their religions, from interference by the government. The sisters, described as best friends, both retired earlier this year. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. When staff members finally found the check, they realized that it was not deposited in a St. James account, but a different bank account. Since 2014, The Marshall Project has been curating some of the best criminal justice reporting from around the web. Kreuper has agreed to plead guilty to the charges in a deal with prosecutors, the US Attorney's Office of California said in a statement. I promised her I would see this through," he says. Sister Mary Margaret was caught in 2018. He had planned to be in Washington for Monday's argument. The first teacher, Agnes Morrissey-Berru, claimed her employment contract was not renewed after 16 years service because of illegal age discrimination. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who was principal of St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, used the school funds to pay for personal expenses, including gambling trips, according to the release. Kreuper retired as principal of St. James' Catholic School in 2018, after holding that position for 28 years. The Torrance Police Department, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation into the allegations against Kreuper. But Fisher counters that function can't be the only criterion because many employers at religiously affiliated institutions sincerely believe that all of their employees perform important ministerial functions, from nurses who care for the sick, to summer camp counselors for troubled teenagers, and athletic coaches who mold the character of their charges and often lead them in prayer. I, for one, absolutely love this move. var zergnet = document.createElement('script'); The rich uncle was the parents of the St. James students., The school monsignor has since sent out a letter in which the nuns asked that i convey to you the deep remorse they each feel for their actions and ask for your forgiveness and prayers.. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged Tuesday with wire fraud and money laundering for ripping off St. James Catholic School for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, according to . Margaret Mary Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang were accused of embezzling tuition, fees, and donations made in favor of St. James Catholic School to fund their gambling trips (Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) Kreuper is also accused of directing St. James School employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit. The embezzlement helped to fuel her gambling habit. "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=47402'; But, Fisher counters, that "this isn't something you measure with a stopwatch." The schools, "have never asserted that either of [the teachers] fell short in any religious duty or adherence to the faith," he says. Southern California authorities have revealed two nuns allegedly embezzling up to $500K which was parlayed into gambling jaunts in Las Vegas. "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. 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. Asking for the nun to be spared from prison, her lawyer Mark Byrne told the court she has been kept under "severe restrictions" at a convent by the nuns in her order. Kreuper was in charge of the schools credit union account, where she was meant to deposit cash and checks from tuition, fees and donations. The church body in the case commissions teachers as ministers, but does not ordain them. Chief Justice John Roberts announced the opinion from the bench, noting that the teacher who brought the case was not a lay teacher. Its an explanation.. For decades, lower courts have recognized an exception to the nation's employment laws for ministers. 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 defraudingSt. James Catholic Schoolover a period of 10 years. This material may not be reproduced without permission. For years, St. James parents were told that the school was cash-strapped and unable to upgrade textbooks that were 20 years old, fund field trips or simply install an awning for the outdoor lunch area. The exception extends to religiously affiliated institutions when they fire employees who serve in a religious capacity akin to that of a minister. 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.. His findings unraveled the entire scheme and, eventually, federal charges were levied against Sister Mary Margaret. Mary Margaret Kreuper (Image source: KTTV-TV video screenshot). 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. It's just that you have to look and see what kind of function are they doing.". At the heart of this dispute is the First Amendment ban on government establishment of religion and the separation of church and state. 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. If these teachers are exempt, he adds, then millions of employees are automatically exempt from laws enacted by Congress to protect workers, simply because they perform some duty their employer considers religious. Rassbach will tell the Supreme Court that not everyone who works at a religious school or institution is exempt from these laws. At the sentencing hearing, those who spoke were split on their feelings toward the nun and what she had done. 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.. He added, Its not meant as an excuse. But as the archdiocese was completing its audit, it noticed something was off with the funding. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Nun stops burglary with quick thinking and prayers: This is Gods property, Sister Andre, the worlds oldest living person, dies at 118, I was a celibate nun for 24 years then fell in love with a Catholic monk, Priest accused of inviting two nuns to take part in a threesome. This is because, as part of the plea deal, the prosecutors have agreed to recommend to the court an "offense level" of 25 for Kreuper's crimes, and will further advise the court to reduce that to 23, or even 22. This was a manifestation of greed, Kumar said, adding that the nun had abused the trust of the community. 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. "I wanted to face them. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, 79, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering after she admitted to investigators that she embezzled hundreds of thousands of. Her embezzlement activities took place from about 2008-2018. 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). 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.. Thanks for contacting us. James Convent, not St. ", "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. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. According to the outlet, "Kreuper acknowledged diverting money to pay for personal expenses that included credit card charges and 'large gambling expenses incurred at casinos,' the U.S. attorney's office said.". But. She just enjoyed gambling, he said. The school soon had a change of heart following pushback. 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. Kreuper became principal at St. James Catholic School in 1990, a position she held for 28 years until her retirement in September 2018. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr); 66 is still a fairly competent age. 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. Other parents remarked it was well-known that Kreuper and Chang traveled often and went gambling, with the two women claiming they were gifted the trips by a rich relative. In a statement to The Washington Post, Kreupers lawyers said she is very remorseful and sorry for any harm she has caused. 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. Associate Editor at BroBible covering all five major sports and every niche sport imaginable, found primarily in the college space. US District Court Judge Otis Wright acknowledged his own anguish in deciding a punishment to fit the crime, saying "I haven't slept well in God knows how long" as he rejected prosecutors' call for a two-year sentence. 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 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. Kreuper was 18 years old when she took her vow of poverty, according to her lawyers, and spent the next 59 years of her life dedicated to the church. (RELATED: Nuns Allegedly Stole Catholic School Funds For Years: Report). Instead of sitting in the Supreme Court chamber, though, Biel, like the rest of us, will be at home listening. Mr Kumar said that jealousy played a part, calling the episode "really an abuse of position of trust". His wife, he said, drove into their driveway "in tears bawling hysterically. Jaclyn Peiser contributed to this report. 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. Poonam Kumar, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California who prosecuted the case, told The Washington Post that Kreuper had diverted checks and cash from St. James parents into a long-overlooked church account to pay for large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit-card charges. The actions were done before the money could be accounted for, displaying repetitive and deceptive behavior, over and over again, the prosecutor said. The sisters later confessed to using the funds for themselves. You can be proud of that, he said. "You don't want the government deciding who teaches religion we don't do that in this country that's why we have an establishment clause," says Rassbach. She is set to be arraigned in court on July 1. Parents said the two nuns were big on moral. Michael Meyers, the churchs monsignor, said Kreuper was very nervous and anxious during the audit and she reportedly asked staff members to change school records. By Megan Carpentier. The vow leads a nun to imitate Jesus, who for our sake became poor, although he was rich. 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.. 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 . 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. All rights reserved. The embezzlement helped to fuel her gambling habit. She is looking forward to getting on with life and will get treatment for her gambling addiction, he said. She faces up to 40 years in federal prison, but is claiming mental illness. It involves two fifth-grade teachers at Catholic schools in California. As principal of St. James Catholic School, she oversaw the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees as well as charitable donations. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. 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. 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. For the second time in as many weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court is tackling a major religion case. The two would skim money off of the top through separate school bank accounts and then head out to Vegas and put it into the casinos. 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. 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