Personal Assistant Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $10 Million from Elderly Employers in New York

A shocking case of elder fraud has come to light, as Catalina Corona has been indicted on concrete charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Employed as a personal assistant, Corona allegedly exploited her position to filch a staggering nearly $10 million from her elderly employers. The indictment was announced by John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, alongside Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"The defendant's greed knew no bounds, as she brazenly stole millions from elderly victims, using deceit to systematically steal the victims’ money and violate the trust they placed in her," stated United States Attorney Durham. Between 2017 and 2024, Corona is alleged to have deposited hundreds of checks written to herself from the victims' bank accounts – acts that went unnoticed until recently. The personal assistant also impersonated one of the victims, telephonically inquiring about account details as part of her scheme, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

As detailed in court filings, Corona's fraudulent behavior was revealed after one of the victims was contacted by their bank concerning checks written out to cash. It led to the chilling discovery that Corona had been forging checks and withdrawing significant sums from the victims’ bank accounts. The defendant stands accused of using these ill-gotten gains to cover her credit card bills and splurge on an assortment of luxury products from Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci, and the treasurer trove of high-end brands.

The scope of Corona's lavish expenditure included $1 million on Louis Vuitton items alone, which featured luggage and purses valued at over $10,000 — and on one single day, used over $25,000 in stolen funds for plane tickets. If convicted of the charges, Corona faces a mandatory minimum of two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft charge, with a potential, maximum of 30 years behind bars. It's worth noting that these charges are not convictions, as the defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty, according to the press release.

This alarming case is being managed by the Office’s General Crimes Section, with Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca M. Urquiola leading the prosecution, reinforced by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Castiglione, who is occupied with forfeiture issues.