Mom Julie Hanway Molina absconds with $400k from high school nonprofit

**Aliso Viejo Mom Julie Hanway Molina Arrested for $411,000 Theft from High‑School Football Booster Club**

Julie Hanway Molina, a 56‑year‑old resident of Aliso Viejo, was taken into custody on Thursday at her Orange County home by federal agents. She is charged with four counts of wire fraud after allegedly siphoning more than $400,000 from a nonprofit that supports the Aliso Niguel High School football team. The U.S.

Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California says Molina was the club’s treasurer and used the funds for personal expenses.

The indictment details that in June 2023, Molina wired roughly $131,523 from the nonprofit’s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana. The money was used to pay the delinquent balance on her own mortgage.

She hid the transfers by providing the board with false treasurer reports that did not disclose the misappropriation.

The case underscores how community‑funded athletics can be vulnerable to abuse of trust. If convicted, Molina faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire‑fraud count, a sentence that could total 80 years.

## Background & Context

Aliso Niguel High School’s booster club was created to raise money for the football team’s equipment, travel and other costs.

Julie Hanway Molina served as the treasurer, responsible for handling the club’s funds and reporting financial activity to the board of directors. , she diverted approximately $411,761 from the nonprofit’s bank account without authorization.

Federal prosecutors allege that Molina “concealed the payments by sending the nonprofit’s board members false treasurer reports that failed to disclose the misappropriation of funds.” The bank transfers were routed through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas, then forwarded to an account in Santa Ana that was used for personal debt repayment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the alleged fraud amounts to a breach of fiduciary duty and a violation of federal wire‑fraud statutes. The indictment also cites the use of the nonprofit’s bank account as a “gateway” to fund personal expenses, a pattern typical in fraudulent diversion schemes.

## Legal Proceedings & Next Steps

Molina was arrested on Thursday, and federal charges were filed shortly thereafter. The indictment lists four counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if she is convicted. No plea agreement or settlement has been announced, and the case is pending before a federal court.

Bill Essayli, the prosecutor handling the matter, stated: “We’re going after all fraud, big or small. This treasurer managed community funds for student athletes and breached that trust.” The statement reflects the DOJ’s stance on protecting charitable organizations from internal theft.

In the meantime, the Aliso Niguel High School football program has temporarily suspended its booster club activities pending an internal audit. The school’s administration said it will cooperate fully with federal investigators to restore transparency and prevent future incidents.

The case remains under active investigation, with potential court appearances scheduled in the coming months. The community awaits further updates as the legal process unfolds.