ents of current and former students of St. James Catholic School in Torrance brought in folders filled with copies of old checks for the Torrance Police Department to investigate an alleged embezzlement case against two South Bay nuns.

According to the Los Angeles Times, school administrators told parents that Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang, who have been with the school for over 20 years, misappropriated over $500,000 in school funds for their own personal expenses.

In a letter to the parents, the school stated that they were not seeking charges against the nuns. That statement alone outraged parents including Jack Alexander, a parent who had all three of his children attend the school.

“It’s a travesty. It’s an injustice and I hope they get the, due process runs its course and they get the justice that they deserve,” Alexander said.

Weeks later, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles decided to seek charges against the nuns. Now, police are investigating.

According to Alexander, the nuns spoke openly about their lavish lifestyle and their trips to Las Vegas.

“I remember growing up, sisters would share a station wagon or something of that nature. I didn’t see them driving newer looking Volvos,” Alexander said.

We reached out to Kreuper and Chang. One number was disconnected. The other was rerouted to another phone number’s voicemail.

After leaving a voicemail, we did not hear back.

Now, dozens of parents are collecting copies of their past checks and bringing them to police. One parent said it has been an eye-opening experience.

“Just pulling all this paperwork and looking at all the different account numbers on the back of the checks, it was incredible. It was like this huge crime. This isn’t petty cash,” Jackie Barankiewicz said.

Parents like Barankiewicz and Alexander are now speculating the amount could be in the millions. Parents will have to wait until the investigation unfolds to get an answer.

But in the meantime, detectives will sift through years of old checks and bank account numbers, to hopefully recover the money parents thought was going to their child’s education.