A Southern California woman accused of embezzling more than $400,000 from a high school football charity allegedly lived a life of luxury, complete with beach vacations and sporting event outings, while she was siphoning funds, federal officials said.
Julie Hanway Molina, 56, a certified public accountant, served as treasurer for the Wolverines Football Club, a volunteer organization established to support a local high school's football program. Prosecutors allege she used her position to steal $411,761.54 from the organization between approximately 2023 and November 2025.
Molina's husband told ABC News that he was unaware of his wife's alleged activities and appeared confused when FBI agents arrested her at their Aliso Viejo home on September 10, 2026. Federal agents executed a search warrant at the $1.4 million property.
The family's social media pages depicted a life of apparent affluence, featuring photos from Notre Dame tailgates, trips to various beaches and destinations, and outings to SoFi Stadium dressed in Pittsburgh Steelers gear. The posts also showed family gatherings, including Disneyland trips and dinners at upscale restaurants.
Prosecutors claim Molina diverted funds to cover personal expenses, including her mortgage and credit card bills. In June 2023, she allegedly wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit's bank account to an account in Santa Ana to pay off her personal mortgage balance. She is also accused of submitting falsified treasurer reports to fellow booster board members to conceal the alleged misappropriation.
Molina faces four federal counts of wire fraud. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of her Aliso Viejo home or a money judgment equivalent to its value.
Given her background as a CPA, law enforcement is now urging businesses, charities, and youth groups that employed Molina to review their financial records for any potential irregularities.