Another good person’s life has been destroyed by gambling.

A 79-year-old retired nun in Los Angeles pled guilty to embezzling $835,000 from the elementary school where she worked to cover her gambling losses.

Mary Margaret Kreuper was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on and has agreed to a plea deal, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California.  Kreuper had taken a vow of poverty as a nun. She was a principal at St. James Catholic School in Torrance for 28 years. She is accused of embezzling the funds for 10 years priot to her retirement in 2018.

“The community of faith at St. James was shocked and saddened by these actions and the parish, school and the archdiocese reported the matter and fully cooperated with authorities in the criminal investigation,” the Archdiocese of Los Angeles told The Los Angeles Times in a statement.

Her lawyer said she was very remorseful and he claimed a “mental illness” caused her to make mistakes. He correctly pointed out that she had devoted her life to “helping others.”

As principal, she was in charge of tuition and fee payments as well as charitable donations and she controlled several of the school’s credit union accounts. She was covering her debts at casinos for the most part. Without the proximity of casino gambling, she probably would be enjoying a relaxing retirement. Instead, she’s probably going to jail.

Casinos are everywhere. Most state have lotteries. Online gambling is rampant. Lives are being wrecked, careers ruined and families destroyed because of gambling.

If a 79-year-old nun falls prey to gambling, who’s safe?