Mary Margaret Croper, an 80-year-old gambling nun, spent $ 835,000 on a Catholic school budget at a casino. She will now have to spend a year and a day in prison for fraud and money laundering.
“I have sinned, I have broken the law, and I have no excuse,” Mary said after the verdict in Los Angeles.
Croiper was the principal of St. James’s Catholic School in California and has been embezzling funds and donations for more than 10 years. To replace the traces of her crimes, the nun ordered her subordinates to copy or destroy the financial statements.
According to the indictment, the stolen money could have been used to pay for schooling for dozens of students, but instead they went on trips to the casino and entertainment for Creuper and her friends. The scheme was unveiled after the director retired in 2018.
In passing sentence, the judge said he had taken into account requests for forgiveness from Catholic families whose children were visiting St. James. In addition to spending 366 days behind bars, Mary has to pay the school $ 835,339 in compensation.
In addition to spending 366 days behind bars, Mary has to pay the school $ 835,339 in compensation.