US nuns Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang face criminal charges after stealing US$500,000 to gamble in Las Vegas

Two California nuns who stole around US$500,000 from the school where they worked and splashed out on travel and gambling in Las Vegas are facing criminal charges.

Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who are said to be best friends, reportedly embezzled the huge sum over the course of a decade from St James Catholic School in Torrance, south of Los Angeles.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said the money was discovered missing during a routine audit after Kreuper, who was principal at the school for 29 years, retired earlier this year.

Chang was a teacher at the school for 20 years and also retired this year.

The nuns’ order confirmed it had been informed the Archdiocese had filed a criminal complaint against the pair.