Woman could go to prison for 20 years if convicted in $1 million wire fraud case

By The Star Staff

A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment late last week charging Zuleika Molina Orozco with eight counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, according to a statement issued Tuesday.

According to court documents, Molina Orozco was the comptroller of Company A, a not-for-profit sports and social club located at a resort in Humacao, and had access and control over Company A’s bank account. Between October 2019 and March 2022, Molina Orozco allegedly made 39 unauthorized wire transfers from Company A’s bank account to three of her credit cards and two unauthorized wire transfers to another bank account, all totaling $1,100,283.36. The money the defendant obtained from the fraud scheme was used to pay the defendant’s personal credit card expenses, to purchase a 2020 Ford F-150 truck, and to transfer money to other individuals.

The defendant was scheduled for her initial court appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marshal D. Morgan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Joseph González, special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson is prosecuting the case.