Julie Hanway Molina is a 56-year-old Aliso Viejo, California, woman and former treasurer of the Wolverine Football Club, a nonprofit booster organization that supports the Aliso Niguel High School football program. Federal prosecutors accuse Molina of diverting more than $400,000 from the organization and using the money for personal expenses.
A federal grand jury indicted Molina on four counts of wire fraud on September 2, 2026. Prosecutors allege that she misappropriated approximately $411,761 between 2023 and November 2025, including money used to pay a delinquent mortgage and credit-card bills. FBI agents arrested Molina at her Aliso Viejo home on September 10. She later pleaded not guilty, was released on $10,000 bond and received a November 2 trial date.
Why Was Julie Hanway Molina Arrested?
Federal prosecutors accuse Molina of using her position as treasurer to divert money from the football booster organization. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California says the alleged scheme operated from 2023 through November 2025 without the nonprofit’s knowledge or authorization. [DOJ]
Prosecutors allege Molina ultimately misappropriated approximately $411,761 belonging to the organization. [DOJ]
What Charges Does Julie Hanway Molina Face?
Molina faces four federal counts of wire fraud. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on September 2, 2026. [DOJ]
Wire fraud is prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and generally involves a scheme to defraud that uses interstate electronic communications or financial transfers.
The indictment is an accusation. Molina has pleaded not guilty, and prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
How Much Money Is Julie Hanway Molina Accused Of Taking?
Federal prosecutors allege Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761. The money allegedly came from an account belonging to the nonprofit organization for which she served as treasurer. [DOJ]
The amount is especially significant compared with the organization’s publicly reported finances. The Wolverine Football Club reported approximately $230,000 in total revenue and $227,000 in expenses for its 2024 fiscal year. [Nonprofit Records]
What Did Molina Allegedly Spend The Money On?
Prosecutors say Molina used booster-club money for her mortgage and credit-card bills. The indictment alleges that she diverted nonprofit funds for personal expenses, including paying the delinquent balance on the mortgage for her home. [DOJ]
In June 2023, prosecutors say Molina 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 mortgage balance on her residence. [DOJ]
Authorities also allege that club money was used to pay Molina’s personal credit-card bills. [DOJ]
How Did Molina Allegedly Conceal The Missing Money?
The indictment accuses Molina of sending false treasurer reports to fellow board members. Prosecutors say she sent numerous emails attaching financial reports that failed to disclose the money she had allegedly diverted. [DOJ]
According to the indictment, Molina’s official financial responsibilities included maintaining records of receipts and expenditures, receiving dues, making board-approved disbursements, co-signing checks and providing financial statements to the organization’s board. [LA Times]
What Was Julie Hanway Molina’s Role With The Wolverine Football Club?
Molina served as the Wolverine Football Club’s treasurer and had significant responsibility for its finances. The club’s own 2025 board roster listed Julie Molina as treasurer alongside president Carol Caito, vice president Matt August and secretary Erica Bisaccia. [Wolverine Football Club]
The organization’s 2024 federal tax filing also identifies Molina as treasurer and reports that she received no compensation for the role. [Nonprofit Records]
California corporate records have also identified Molina as the nonprofit’s chief financial officer. [California Corporate Records]
What Do Wolverine Football Club Meeting Minutes Show?
Club records show Molina regularly presenting financial information to the organization’s board. Minutes from a February 26, 2024 meeting identify a “Treasurer’s Report” presented by Molina and discuss incoming donations for the football program’s spring nutrition activities. [Wolverine Football Club Minutes]
Those records help establish Molina’s financial role within the booster organization. They do not, by themselves, establish criminal wrongdoing.
What Is The Wolverine Football Club?
The Wolverine Football Club is a nonprofit booster organization supporting football at Aliso Niguel High School. Its website identifies the organization as a football booster club and states that it is not affiliated with the Capistrano Unified School District. [Wolverine Football Club]
The organization uses federal tax identification number 33-0653372 and is recognized as a tax-exempt nonprofit. Public tax records show that its activities involve supporting the football program through fundraising and other expenses connected to players and the team. [Nonprofit Records]
Was Julie Hanway Molina An Aliso Niguel High School Employee?
No. Capistrano Unified School District says Molina was never employed by the district. A district spokesperson confirmed after her arrest that Molina worked for the separate nonprofit booster organization rather than for Aliso Niguel High School or the school district itself. [ABC7]
That distinction is important because the alleged victim in the federal case is the booster nonprofit, not the school district itself.
What Did The Wolverine Football Club Say?
The Wolverine Football Club says it has been cooperating with law enforcement. After Molina’s arrest, the organization said it was aware of the developments involving its former treasurer and had cooperated fully with investigators. [ABC7]
The club said it could not discuss details because the criminal case remains active and that its current board was focused on supporting student-athletes and moving the football program forward. [Yahoo Sports]
What Did The Aliso Viejo Mayor Say?
Aliso Viejo Mayor Max Duncan publicly described the allegations as deeply disappointing. Duncan said youth sports are important to local families and expressed sympathy for volunteers dealing with the consequences of the allegations. [CBS Los Angeles]
ABC7 also quoted Duncan as saying he expected the community and parents to rally around the program following Molina’s arrest. [ABC7]
When Did The Alleged Fraud Begin?
Prosecutors say the alleged scheme began in 2023 and continued through November 2025. During that period, Molina is documented in club and nonprofit records as holding a financial leadership position. [DOJ] [Wolverine Football Club]
The indictment alleges that she repeatedly diverted organization money during that time while concealing the transactions from other board members.
When Was Julie Hanway Molina Indicted?
A federal grand jury indicted Molina on September 2, 2026. The indictment contains four wire-fraud counts arising from the alleged diversion of booster-club funds. [DOJ]
When Was Julie Hanway Molina Arrested?
FBI agents arrested Molina at her Aliso Viejo home on September 10. ABC7 recorded the arrest as federal agents waited outside the residence. Molina reportedly answered a telephone call from authorities and then came outside with her hands raised before agents took her into custody. [ABC7]
The FBI is investigating the case. [DOJ]
What Did Julie Hanway Molina Plead?
Molina pleaded not guilty to all four wire-fraud charges during her September 10 initial federal court appearance. [CBS Los Angeles]
This is an important development from the initial arrest reporting, which had been published before her court appearance occurred.
Was Julie Hanway Molina Released From Custody?
Yes. A U.S. magistrate judge ordered Molina released on $10,000 bond. The release order followed her not-guilty plea on September 10. [CBS Los Angeles]
When Is Julie Hanway Molina’s Trial?
Molina’s federal trial is currently scheduled to begin November 2, 2026. [CBS Los Angeles]
Federal criminal trial dates can change because of motions, scheduling orders, plea negotiations or other developments, so the date should be updated if the court later modifies the schedule.
What Is The Possible Sentence If Molina Is Convicted?
Each wire-fraud count carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Molina faces four counts. [DOJ]
That does not mean Molina would receive 20 years on each count if convicted. Any eventual sentence would depend on the outcome of the case, federal sentencing law, the advisory sentencing guidelines and the judge.
Has Julie Hanway Molina Been Convicted?
No. Molina has pleaded not guilty and remains accused, not convicted. Her case is currently scheduled for trial on November 2. [CBS Los Angeles]
The government must prove the wire-fraud allegations beyond a reasonable doubt before Molina can be convicted.
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.