A former treasurer of a high school football booster club in Southern California has been indicted on federal charges alleging she stole more than $400,000 raised for the team, according to authorities.
The Wolverine Football Club, which supports the football program at Aliso Niguel High School, posted a message on its website acknowledging the situation. The statement appeared above photos of players and the rally slogan “Football First, Family Always and Community Forever.”
“We are aware of the recent developments regarding the former treasurer,” the club wrote. “We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement throughout this process and will continue to do so.”
Arrest and Charges
Julie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested Thursday at her home in Aliso Viejo, California, according to Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. She was arraigned in federal court on charges of defrauding the Wolverine Football Club.
Molina pleaded not guilty and was released on $10,000 bond, McEvoy said.
The indictment identifies the defrauded organization only as a not-for-profit volunteer group whose purpose was to “promote and enhance a high school football program through responsibly raising and managing funds, coordinating effective team-building activities, and supporting all student players’ growth and development.”
Federal Response
“We’re going after all fraud, big or small,” said Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, in a social media posting.
Essayli told KTLA-5 in Los Angeles that Molina is a professional CPA, which raised concerns among investigators about whether there may be other victims. He warned that others who have done business with her “should check their books.”
Essayli acknowledged to NBC Los Angeles that the case does not involve a large sum of money, “but this is a big deal to the local community. That was a lot of money that those students and parents worked hard to raise.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the FBI is investigating the case.
NBC News reached out to Molina’s attorney, who was not immediately available.
Details of the Alleged Scheme
The indictment alleges that from sometime in 2023 to November 2025, funds were diverted from the organization’s bank account and used by Molina to pay the mortgage on her personal residence and pay credit card expenses.
It further alleges that Molina emailed false treasurer reports to board members to conceal the unauthorized payments totaling $411,761.54.
The indictment claims that interstate commerce laws were broken to divert the money and falsely report account balances, elevating the theft charge to a federal offense. It details four counts of interstate wire transmission of funds.
According to one count, on June 23, 2023, $131,523.54 was wired from the organization’s Farmers and Merchants Bank account in Laguna Hills, California, through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas, to “Mr. Cooper’s” account in Santa Ana, California, to pay money owed on the mortgage for Molina’s personal residence. McEvoy said “Mr. Cooper” refers to the mortgage company.
In the three other counts, the indictment alleges that on three separate dates — Aug. 21, Oct. 30 and Nov. 26 — Molina sent emails that traveled from California through a Washington server with false reports of the balances of the organization’s bank account.
The charges carry up to 20 years per count in federal prison. If convicted, Molina could face forfeiture of property and other proceeds traceable to the stolen money.
Community Reaction
The arrest reverberated in the community, among parents and neighbors of Molina.
“I’m shocked,” Angela Dimitrov told NBC Los Angeles. She said she learned of the fraud from her son when she arrived at the high school campus for back-to-school night.
Tony Delmarmol said his daughter played soccer at the school, “so I know what it’s like. You have to spend a lot of money for that.”
Molina’s trial date is Nov. 2, in the court of U.S. District Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani.
Aliso Viejo Mayor Max Duncan issued a statement Friday expressing disappointment, “particularly because these funds were intended to support our young athletes and their experience at Aliso Niguel High School.”
Duncan said Aliso Viejo is a community of many young families and “youth sports are such an important part of who we are.” He expressed support for the volunteers “who are now dealing with the consequences of an alleged betrayal of that trust.” He said the community will continue to support the football program and support its community and volunteers.