Sister Marie Thornton was the chief financial officer for Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. from 1999 to 2009. A federal indictment charges during those years she embezzled $850,000 from the Catholic liberal arts college.
Students, who pay $28,000 a year for tuition, shook their heads at the thought of a nun violating one of the Ten Commandments.
Sources confirm what a former Iona basketball coach said, that Sister Marie had a gambling problem. Even with a six-figure income she often went to Atlantic City and gambled away her salary and Iona College money. The indictment charges she turned in fake bills and used her college credit card to steal money.
No one from the Iona college administration would speak to on camera. By e-mail, a spokeswoman referred Fox 5 to a statement on the website, which essentially said Iona College was not indicted, a former employee was.
The statement also states Iona College has gotten the most of the money back, though sources say insurance repaid the money, not sister Marie, who gambled away any money she had.
When Iona fired Sister Marie last year, it publicly said she left for medical reasons. The college also never asked law enforcement to investigate. It only came out after Iona filed losses in its income tax return.
Sources say Sister Marie Thornton, who was released without posting bail, is cloistered at the Sisters for St. Joseph Order, near Philadelphia. Part of its mission statement is "... to raise consciousness about all forms of poverty."
Sister Marie faces 10 years in prison if convicted, but her lawyer said he expects a resolution fair to all parties. Satan already owns her soul.
Students, who pay $28,000 a year for tuition, shook their heads at the thought of a nun violating one of the Ten Commandments.
Sources confirm what a former Iona basketball coach said, that Sister Marie had a gambling problem. Even with a six-figure income she often went to Atlantic City and gambled away her salary and Iona College money. The indictment charges she turned in fake bills and used her college credit card to steal money.
No one from the Iona college administration would speak to on camera. By e-mail, a spokeswoman referred Fox 5 to a statement on the website, which essentially said Iona College was not indicted, a former employee was.
The statement also states Iona College has gotten the most of the money back, though sources say insurance repaid the money, not sister Marie, who gambled away any money she had.
When Iona fired Sister Marie last year, it publicly said she left for medical reasons. The college also never asked law enforcement to investigate. It only came out after Iona filed losses in its income tax return.
Sources say Sister Marie Thornton, who was released without posting bail, is cloistered at the Sisters for St. Joseph Order, near Philadelphia. Part of its mission statement is "... to raise consciousness about all forms of poverty."
Sister Marie faces 10 years in prison if convicted, but her lawyer said he expects a resolution fair to all parties. Satan already owns her soul.
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