"Gambling nun," Sister Mary Anne Rapp, gets jail for stealing $128K from churches
(CBS/AP) ALBION, N.Y. - Sister Mary Anne Rapp, a Roman Catholic nun who had more than one habit at a time, was sentenced to 90 days in jail for stealing nearly $130,000 from two upstate New York parishes to support a gambling addiction.
Sister Mary Anne Rapp also was ordered at Monday's sentencing to perform 100 hours of community service and repay $128,000.
Rapp pleaded guilty to grand larceny in Orleans County Court in April. The 68-year-old admitted stealing from St. Mary's Church in Holley and St. Mark's Church in Kendall from 2006 to 2011. The thefts were discovered during an audit.
Investigators have said she stole the money to feed a gambling addiction and spent the money at western New York casinos. According to CBS affiliate WIVB, Rapp would steal money from the collection plate and would divert checks payable to the church on a weekly basis.
"Over the years I'm sure she's helped a lot of people and a lot of causes, but you can't ignore the dishonesty that she was involved with," Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone said, according to the station. "A lot of people have different problems and different addictions but they don't all take this kind of money," he continued.
The Sisters of St. Francis in Lewiston issued a statement expressing empathy for the two churches and continued support for Rapp.