Catholic Nun Embezzles $1.2 Million

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The U.S. attorney in Manhattan said Sister Marie Thornton used Iona College funds for her personal expenses from 1999 to 2009. She served as vice president of finance for Iona for over a decade. During her tenure, she regularly submitted phony vendor invoices for reimbursement and had the college pay "credit-card bills for personal expenses." 

The federal complaint did not detail her expenses, but it has been suggested by Iona's former men's basketball coach, that the good sister spent a fair amount of time in Atlantic City casinos. 

Thornton, 62, was arrested Thursday and pleaded not guilty in federal court in Manhattan. She was allowed to remain free under the watchful eye of Jesus.

Iona College
Iona College was named for an island monastery off the coast of Scotland. The school was founded in 1940 and has about 4,200 students. Its main campus is in New Rochelle, 15 miles from Manhattan.