This woman of God is facing some serious trouble for gross violations of federal laws – and the Seventh Commandment.
Sister Marie Thornton, the former vice president of finance at Iona College in New York, stands accused of embezzling more than $850,000 from Iona and sending fake invoices to the school to pay off personal credit card bills and expenses.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Thornton embezzlement occurred from 1999 to 2009.
Sister Thornton isn’t the only one who found herself in a compromising position. The school itself has taken some flack for not reporting the missing funds. Iona didn’t even mention that money was gone until it filed its 2009 taxes.
As for Thornton, what would cause a woman who took solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to commit such an egregious act? According to former Iona basketball coach Jeff Ruland, Sister Thornton had a major penchant for spending her time at Atlantic City casinos.