The ceremonies in those cities came on the same day Los Angeles County officials raised a Pride flag at their headquarters for the first time. The scandal surfaced publicly in 2018 when the small school announced that it had told police that Kreuper and a second sister were “involved in the personal use of a substantial amount of school funds.” The second sister was never charged.Long Beach and Hermosa Beach kicked off LGBTQ Pride Month on Thursday, June 1, by raising rainbow flags in front of their city halls - with multiple other nearby communities set to do so in the coming weeks.īoth Long Beach and Hermosa raised Progress Pride flags, which have additonal colors to represent trans and non-binary folks and people of color. James, said Kreuper’s actions were “an abuse of power in every possible way,” including the nun’s attempts to incriminate her while destroying evidence. James.”īut Cheryl Hugo, a former secretary at the school whose son also attended St. “My son got the best education possible, in fact, I probably would’ve paid double the tuition rate in order for my son to attend St.

“I don’t feel that I’m a victim in this case, I got exactly what I paid for,” Kearns said. She made herself available for any questions, and helped with any concern Kearns said he had. James, said Kreuper always put students and parents ahead of everything else. One former student said the whole experience has shaken her, violated her trust and played a role in her no longer being a part of the Catholic church. Several people spoke during the hearing, including some parents of students who said they felt betrayed Kreuper pocketed their tuition money, and others who said they forgave her. Kreuper wiped away tears at the judge’s comment. A majority of them were in favor of Kreuper receiving a lighter sentence, Judge Wright said.Īfter reviewing the letters, Wright said Kreuper has likely impacted thousands of children’s lives in positive ways and helped them to achieve success. Wright also ordered Kreuper to receive counseling for the addiction.ĭozens of people – in church leadership, school coworkers, parents and former students – signed letters for the sentencing. Kreuper’s defense attorney said she suffered from a gambling addiction. “What I perceived as an injustice was rationale for my sin,” Kreuper said, “and I know that I was wrong.” The judge asked Kreuper how she could believe that, considering she was a nun and “basically signed on to be poor.” In an earlier interview with authorities, Wright said, Kreuper told investigators that one factor in taking the money was that she felt there was a disparity in pay between private and public schools. Attorney Poonam Kumar said.ĭuring sentencing in downtown Los Angeles, Wright said he took into consideration Kreuper’s age, lack of prior criminal history and her 60-plus years as a nun.īut, he said, “I am sure that this horrible example will affect these kids. In addition to the embezzling funds, the former principal also directed employees to alter and destroy financial records during a school audit, Assistant U.S. Kreuper was responsible for funds the kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school received for tuition and fees, in addition to donations. I was wrong and I’m profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering I’ve caused so many people.” “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. “I have sinned, I’ve broken the law and I have no excuses,” Kreuper said via teleconference from a convent. She has paid back $10,000 and is expected to continuing paying back what she can, even if that is only $20 a month after she is released. Wright II sentenced Kreuper to one year in federal prison and to fully pay the school back. In July, she pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, admitted to stealing the funds while she was principal at St. 7, after pleading guilty to embezzling approximately $835,000 from the K-8 campus to pay for personal expenses such as gambling trips. A nun and former principal of a Torrance Catholic school was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday, Feb.

Long beach press telegram