Former Catholic school principal sentenced to probation in $238K theft case

Broward prosecutors had asked for 5-year prison sentence, but judge opted for 10 years of probation instead.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:03pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of cash and coins, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the physical evidence of a major theft.A harsh, unforgiving flash illuminates the physical evidence of a major theft, exposing the cold, hard realities of white-collar crime.Fort Lauderdale Today

A former Catholic school principal in Broward County, Florida was sentenced to 10 years of probation and ordered to pay $121,548 in restitution after being found guilty of embezzling nearly $240,000 from her employer over an 8-year period. Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence Lori St. Thomas, 62, to 5 years in prison, but the judge chose a more lenient probation sentence instead.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of holding white-collar criminals accountable, even when significant financial crimes are proven. The light sentence has raised concerns about the justice system's ability to deter and punish theft of this magnitude from a position of trust.

The details

Authorities said St. Thomas, the former principal at St. Coleman Catholic School in Pompano Beach, used an unauthorized bank account to deposit extra direct payments for herself and also transferred unapproved credits into a personal pension fund from 2016 to 2024, the year she was fired by the Archdiocese of Miami. A jury found her guilty of organized scheme to defraud on March 3.

  • St. Thomas was found guilty by a Broward jury on March 3, 2026.
  • She was sentenced by a judge on April 15, 2026.

The players

Lori St. Thomas

The 62-year-old former principal at St. Coleman Catholic School in Pompano Beach, Florida who was found guilty of embezzling nearly $240,000 from her employer over an 8-year period.

Archdiocese of Miami

The Catholic organization that employed St. Thomas as a principal and ultimately fired her in 2024 after discovering the theft.

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What’s next

The judge's decision to sentence St. Thomas to probation instead of prison time is expected to be appealed by prosecutors, who had pushed for a 5-year sentence.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system when it comes to holding white-collar criminals accountable, even in cases involving significant financial crimes. The light sentence has raised concerns about the system's ability to deter and punish theft of this magnitude from a position of trust.