Irvine woman who stole from nuns gets 37 months in prison
An Irvine woman who stole $285,000 from a group of nuns and then spent it all in just 64 days was sentenced Friday to 37 months in federal prison.
Linda Rose Gagnon, 59, had promised to help the Roman Catholic sisters buy a retirement home, but instead used the money in a spending spree, paying for pet-sitting services for her dog, gourmet meals and lease payments for an Audi TT sports cars, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The Irvine resident was found guilty in November of three counts of wire fraud for defrauding the U.S. Province of the Religious of Jesus & Mary, an order devoted to educational and charitable work.
Gagnon spent the money paying for meals, travel, manicures, lingerie and financially propping up her failing real estate finance company, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office said.
U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford ordered Gagnon to surrender by June 13 and begin her prison sentence. He also said he would order Gagnon to repay the nuns.
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