A Florida receptionist mistakenly received deposits from her employer for amounts much higher than her usual pay. Now, she faces charges of money laundering and grand theft. It's turned into a costly mistake, but one that went unnoticed for a year.
One Hell of a Bonus
Yessica Arrua worked as a receptionist at Palm Beach Equine, a veterinary clinic specializing in horse care. Her salary was around $60,000 a year. However, due to an error that everyone acknowledges was the fault of Harbor America, the payroll provider, she instead received the salary of a veterinarian at the same clinic she worked for. This amounted to about $450,000 a year. The veterinarian didn't even realize she wasn't receiving the money until almost a year later, when payments on some of her credit cards were rejected.
The 29-year-old had been working for the clinic for nine years when the payroll error occurred. Arrua later claimed she thought the extra money in her account was a "bonus." She also stated that she had heard that a previous receptionist had received a bonus for saving the clinic money on supplies.
Not As Lucky As It First Seemed
After being confronted by the veterinarian whose salary Arrua had taken, she allegedly broke down in tears and admitted to knowingly spending money she hadn't earned. Ultimately, she returned a cashier's check for $200,000. She had already sent the rest of the money to relatives in Argentina to build a house, buy a food truck for a friend of her mother, and make other purchases for herself.
According to the police report, the investigating officer identified several errors by Harbor America and had difficulty finding representatives to clarify the situation. Finally, Harbor America responded that the representatives responsible for the error were no longer with the company.
Palm Beach Equine President Scott Swerdlin has said that both Arrua and Harbor America should be held accountable for what happened.
Who's to Blame?
Arrua, Harbor America, and even the veterinary clinic (as the employer) could be held liable in any civil case. But only Arrua is facing criminal charges.
Arrua's case is controversial. While some call her a thief, others believe she's not to blame for the payroll company's incompetence. Regardless of public opinion, Arrua faces charges for money laundering and grand theft, both first-degree felonies. In Florida, grand theft is defined as the unlawful taking of property valued at $750 or more. She is facing money laundering charges for transferring the money to relatives in Argentina.
Part of the case against her will revolve around whether Arrua knew the funds were ill-gotten gains. Considering the huge discrepancy between her salary and what she was receiving, it could be difficult for Arrua to defend herself by arguing ignorance (saving $400,000 in office supplies for a single clinic is ... a bit of a stretch). Authorities also allege that she admitted to knowing what was happening and still spent the money.
What If It Happens to Me?
It pays to be wary when finding money or valuable goods. States have laws that mandate the return of money or property if it exceeds a certain minimum value, for example, $100 in California or $20 in New York. If you can't identify the owner of the money or a found item, you should take it to the police.
However, state laws also have a general "finder's keepers" rule. That is, if the owner can't be located after a certain amount of time, then the finder can keep it, although there may be restrictions depending on the item and its value.
When it comes to overpayments, particularly if they come from an employer or a government benefit, it pays to be conscientious. Otherwise, you might not only have to return all of the money, but you may have to pay penalties and interest. In the most egregious cases, such as Arrua's, you may even face criminal charges.
Related Resources
- Theft Overview (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Money Laundering Criminal Charges (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
