A Southern California woman accused of betraying a community fundraising effort for a popular high school football program was arrested by the FBI on Thursday morning, with prosecutors alleging she stole more than $411,000 to cover personal expenses including her mortgage and credit card bills.
Federal agents took 56-year-old Julie Hanway Molina into custody shortly after dawn at her Aliso Viejo home. Officers in flak jackets, carrying pistols, surrounded the suburban two-story residence before using a bullhorn to order her to “come out with your hands up.”
Minutes later, Molina walked out through the front door and appeared stunned as federal officers placed her in handcuffs and escorted her into a black sedan. She now faces four federal counts of wire fraud.
Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, said the allegations amount to a profound violation of community trust and vowed that his office would pursue a significant punishment if Molina is convicted.
“This defendant was entrusted by the community with safeguarding money raised for young adults. She violated that trust and is now a charged felon,” Essayli told The California Post. “Our prosecutors are committed to holding her fully accountable, including seeking a federal prison sentence.”
According to the federal indictment, Molina served as treasurer of an Orange County nonprofit described as a volunteer-run group created to support and strengthen a high school football program.
The indictment does not identify the nonprofit by name. However, public sources cited in court documents indicate the alleged victim appears to be Wolverines Football Club, the booster organization that supports the Wolverines football team at Aliso Niguel High School.
Aliso Niguel High School is a public high school in the Capistrano Unified School District, serving students in grades 9 through 12 from Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. The campus, located on Wolverine Way, has previously been recognized as a California Distinguished School.
Aliso Niguel’s beloved sports teams are known as the Wolverines. The football team is especially popular. In 1996, the school’s varsity team went undefeated and won the CIF-SS Division VIII championship. Its record in the current season is 0-3.
The federal indictment, returned by a grand jury on Sept. 2, alleges Molina stole approximately $411,761.54 belonging to the organization intended to fund the team.
Prosecutors say the alleged scheme began in or around 2023 and continued through around November 2025.
Molina’s position as treasurer gave her significant access to the nonprofit’s finances.
According to the indictment, Molina’s responsibilities included co-signing checks, making necessary disbursements approved by the board and membership, receiving dues and other money, maintaining records of receipts and expenditures, and providing financial statements to the board.
Prosecutors allege that Molina used that access to divert money without the nonprofit’s knowledge or authorization.
The indictment specifically alleges that some of the money went toward the mortgage on her personal residence and credit card expenses.
In June 2023, Molina allegedly wired approximately $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 to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.
Federal prosecutors also allege that Molina attempted to conceal the alleged diversion by emailing board members false treasurer reports that failed to disclose the alleged misappropriation.
Molina’s role with the football organization was publicly known before the federal case.
In 2024, she was identified as the football club’s treasurer in connection with Senior Night, an event held before the football game at Aliso Niguel High School on Friday, Sept. 20.
At the time, Molina spoke about the emotional significance of the event for families.
“This is a special occasion for us to celebrate,” said Molina. “It can be very emotional, especially for the mothers seeing their kids all grown up.”
The federal indictment alleges the money was diverted as part of a scheme involving interstate wire communications.
Molina is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned Monday in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
If convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture if Molina is convicted.
The indictment identifies a $1.4 million home on Poplar Drive in Aliso Viejoamong the property the government could seek to forfeit, along with property or proceeds traceable to the alleged offenses.
If the property cannot be forfeited, prosecutors seek a money judgment equal to its value.
The indictment also contains provisions for substitute property under specified circumstances.
Molina has been charged, but the allegations in the indictment remain unproven unless and until established in court.
