Catalina Corona, a personal assistant from Queens, was arraigned at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Employed by an elderly couple, she allegedly forged their signatures on checks and stole approximately $10 million. The case is being overseen by United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Leslie R. Backschies from the FBI's New York Field Office announced the charges against Corona. Durham stated, "The defendant’s greed knew no bounds, as she brazenly stole millions from elderly victims." He emphasized his office's commitment to protecting seniors from fraud.
Backschies added that for years Corona exploited the trust placed in her by the victims. "Combatting the financial exploitation of elderly Americans remains a priority for the FBI," she said.
Court documents allege that between 2017 and 2024, Corona deposited numerous checks made out to cash into her accounts without her employers' consent. Many transactions occurred in Queens and Long Island within New York's Eastern District.
Corona also impersonated one of her employers when contacting their bank for account information. In April 2024, one victim received a call about suspicious checks written to cash, leading to the discovery of Corona's fraudulent activities. Investigations revealed that besides forging checks, she transferred funds directly into her accounts.
The stolen money funded luxury purchases including over $1 million spent on Louis Vuitton items alone and significant sums on other high-end brands like Cartier and Gucci. On one occasion, Corona reportedly used more than $25,000 in stolen funds for airline travel.
Corona faces serious legal consequences if convicted: a mandatory minimum of two years' imprisonment for aggravated identity theft and up to 30 years for other charges.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca M. Urquiola leads the prosecution with Michael Castiglione handling forfeiture matters.
