A Siler City Police Department employee is under investigation after allegedly defrauding domestic violence victims out of thousands of dollars in a U-Visa assistance scam.
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), 57-year-old Gloria Maldonado, a domestic violence advocate with the department since 2015, is accused of obtaining money from victims under false pretenses while offering help with U-Visa applications — a visa intended for victims of certain crimes who are assisting law enforcement.
The investigation began after the Siler City Police Department received information that Maldonado was accepting cash payments from victims but not providing any actual assistance. The department requested the SBI’s involvement, and an official investigation was launched on July 22.
Court documents indicate Maldonado is charged with two counts of obtaining property under false pretenses. In one instance, she allegedly took $1,500; in the second, $5,200, both in exchange for U-Visa assistance that was never rendered.
The SBI reports that additional victims have since come forward with similar allegations. Authorities believe there may be more individuals affected by the scheme.
Maldonado has been placed on non-disciplinary suspension while the department conducts an internal review. She was released from the Chatham County Detention Center on a written promise to appear in court.
Her first court appearance is scheduled for September 22 at the Chatham County Justice Center. The investigation remains ongoing.
