LOS ANGELES, CA — An Orange County woman who served as treasurer of a nonprofit supporting the Aliso Niguel High School football team has been arrested on federal charges accusing her of diverting more than $400,000 from the organization for personal expenses, including a delinquent mortgage and credit card bills.
Julie Hanway Molina, 56, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested at her home Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Federal prosecutors said she is charged with four counts of wire fraud following an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Sept. 2.
The case centers on money belonging to the football booster organization and allegations that Molina used her position as treasurer to redirect funds without the nonprofit’s knowledge or authorization.
What prosecutors allege
According to the indictment described by federal prosecutors, Molina served as treasurer of the nonprofit from 2023 through November 2025.
During that period, prosecutors allege, she diverted approximately $411,761 from the organization’s bank account in Laguna Hills and used the money for personal expenses.
One of the largest transactions identified by prosecutors occurred in June 2023, when approximately $131,523 was transferred from the nonprofit’s account through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana.
Federal authorities allege that the money was used to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage for Molina’s personal residence.
Prosecutors also allege that other nonprofit funds were used to pay Molina’s credit card bills.
The allegations involve money that the organization had raised and maintained to support the high school football program. Because Molina allegedly controlled financial information as the group’s treasurer, prosecutors say she was able to move the funds and subsequently attempt to conceal the transactions.
Alleged false financial reports
Federal prosecutors also accuse Molina of taking steps to disguise the alleged withdrawals from other members of the organization.
According to the indictment, she sent emails to board members that included false treasurer reports that did not disclose the alleged misappropriation of funds.
The reports allegedly made it more difficult for other members of the nonprofit’s board to identify the missing money and understand how the organization’s accounts had been used.
The allegations therefore involve not only the transfer of the funds but also an alleged effort to conceal the transactions through the organization’s routine financial reporting.
Information released by the Department of Justice does not indicate that Molina was accused of taking the money for any football-related expense. Instead, prosecutors specifically allege that the funds were redirected toward personal financial obligations, including her mortgage and credit card debt.
Arrest follows federal grand jury indictment
Molina was arrested Sept. 10 at her Aliso Viejo residence and was expected to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana later that day.
The charges were brought through a federal indictment returned by a grand jury on Sept. 2.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal prosecutors have charged Molina with four counts of wire fraud. Each count carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if she is convicted.
That maximum, however, is not the same as a likely sentence. Any sentence would depend on the outcome of the case and the federal sentencing process.
The allegations remain unproven
The charges against Molina are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
An indictment establishes that a federal grand jury found probable cause to charge a defendant; it does not constitute a conviction or establish that the alleged conduct occurred as charged.
The federal case will now proceed through the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with prosecutors required to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt if the case goes to trial.
What remains unclear
Federal authorities have not publicly stated whether any portion of the approximately $411,761 allegedly diverted from the nonprofit has been recovered.
The public announcement also does not detail when the booster organization first identified discrepancies in its financial records or how long the allegedly false reports were circulated before the matter reached federal investigators.
Those details could become clearer as the case progresses and additional court documents are filed.
For now, the central allegations are that Molina used her position as treasurer to access nonprofit funds, diverted approximately $411,761 for personal financial obligations, and provided board members with financial reports that allegedly concealed the transactions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the FBI investigation remains ongoing.
