A pair of nuns from a Catholic school in Torrance, California are accused of embezzling close to half a million dollars in fees, donations and tuition and using the proceeds to fund gambling trips to Las Vegas, while telling parents that the school was operating on a “shoestring” budget.
Per local news reports, Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, two long-time nuns from St. James Catholic School, were both “involved in the personal use of a substantial amount of school funds”, which were diverted into a secret bank account to which only they had access.
Former principal Kreuper, who recently retired after 28 years of service, handled money related to tuition and school fees; it is alleged that she handed some cheques on to bookkeeping staff but withheld others, endorsing them under the fake name of “St. James Convent.”
The church’s monsignor Michael Meyers told parents and alumni that an irregularity was first noticed when a family requested a copy of a cheque made out to the school, after which Sister Kreuper, who at the time was facing a standard audit, became “very nervous and very anxious.”
An independent investigation was launched, and the scheme was uncovered. School officials say that the sisters have both expressed “deep remorse” for their actions, and while the archdiocese is cooperating with local police, they will not press charges, in part because the nuns have agreed to make restitution.
The embezzlement could potentially date back a decade or more, however, local media sources say that records could only be sourced as far back as 2012. When asked by a parent where all the money had gone, archdiocese lawyer Marge Graf told parents:
“We do know that they had a pattern of going on trips, we do know they had a pattern of going to casinos, and the reality is, they used the account as their personal account.”
Some parents were upset with the news that the two nuns would not face charges, especially as Sister Kreuper had previously told the school community that the budget was so tight they could not afford such luxuries as an awning for an outdoor eating area.
Obviously what they did is very wrong, but I can’t be the only one who thinks this would make for a killer movie or miniseries, right? Have Ryan Murphy write and direct it and cast Sarah Paulson as one of the embezzling nuns and you’ll be elbow-deep in awards season trophies, I guarantee it.
