PALM BEACH, FL — A Florida receptionist has been arrested after allegedly spending over $400,000 in misdirected salary payments, claiming she believed it was a bonus.
Yessica Arrua, 29, worked at the Palm Beach Equine Clinic and is now facing grand theft and money laundering charges after authorities say she spent the windfall meant for a veterinarian.
Arrua was hired at a $60,000 salary, but a payroll error mistakenly routed the $450,000 salary of a veterinarian to her account. The error reportedly went undetected for nearly a year—with the actual vet unpaid the entire time.
The issue came to light in early 2023 when the clinic’s CFO discovered the discrepancy and alerted the payroll provider. Arrua allegedly admitted she noticed the unusually high paychecks but thought they were a “bonus”, possibly due to rumors about her predecessor receiving one.
Instead of reporting the error, investigators say Arrua went on a spending spree, purchasing items from Coach and Michael Kors, buying furniture, dining out frequently, and transferring thousands via Zelle to someone saved as “Mama Dukes.”
She also reportedly spent $80,000 on a food truck for a friend and sent large sums overseas to Argentina to help build a house.
The truth unraveled when the unpaid veterinarian’s credit cards were declined, prompting her to investigate and confront Arrua directly.
Out of the $414,000 mistakenly paid to her, approximately $200,000 remains unspent. Arrua confessed that she cannot repay the full amount, particularly the $100,000 her mother transferred abroad.
She is currently being held at the Palm Beach Main Detention Center.
