Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
The Salary Was Deposited Due to a System Error at the Company, But the Employee Used the Amount on Luxury Items and Transfers Abroad Before Being Discovered
A receptionist at a clinic specializing in high-value horse care is being accused of theft and money laundering after mistakenly receiving over US$ 400, about R$ 2.2 million, in salaries that did not belong to her.
The error extended over almost a year, and most of the amount had already been spent when the mistake was discovered.
Unrealistic Monthly Deposits
Yessica Arrua, 29, was hired in 2022 with an expected salary of US$ 60,000 annually.
-
Tiny watermelons, sweet and with red or orange flesh, can become a choice for those who want an individual fruit without waste and easy to produce.
-
A Brazilian woman traveled 56 hours to China to train kung fu for three weeks at a school near the Shaolin Temple, facing up to six hours of daily exercises with the “iron body” technique that uses sticks to harden muscles, and went viral with over 4 million views.
-
Goodbye, Styrofoam? Entrepreneur creates recyclable cardboard cooler that keeps drinks cold for up to six hours and already sells 40,000 units per month. The product underwent 21 tests over nine months of development and entered the market with an investment of R$ 60,000.
-
Berlin opens a 25,000 m² hole in the center and unearths its medieval origins, with archaeologists racing against construction to save coins, latrines, shoes, ceramics, and bones of the first inhabitants before the site soon becomes urban apartments.
However, between February 2022 and January 2023, she began receiving monthly deposits equivalent to the salary of a veterinarian at the same clinic, whose annual salary exceeded US$ 450,000.
The error occurred due to a failure in the system of the third-party company responsible for payroll.
According to investigations, the deposits were mistakenly made to Yessica’s account, and for eleven months, no one noticed.
Luxury, Transfers, and a Food Truck
Instead of reporting the unexpected amounts, the employee spent the money on luxury brand purchases, dinners at restaurants, furniture, and large-sum transfers.
One of the transactions caught investigators’ attention: about US$ 80,000 was used to purchase a food truck in the name of a friend of her mother.
Additionally, part of the money was sent to relatives in Argentina, supposedly for the construction of a house.
Yessica claims she believed she was receiving a bonus for her good performance, but the police contest this version. The clinic, upon identifying the problem, demanded immediate reimbursement.
Arrest and Criminal Proceedings
On June 27, 2025, Yessica Arrua was arrested on formal charges of grand theft and money laundering — both high-value crimes that can result in sentences of up to 30 years in prison, according to Florida law.
She managed to return US$ 200,000 through a cashier’s check but stated that the rest had already been spent or sent to family, claiming she considered the amount “a blessing from God“.
Repercussions and Investigations
The case received attention in the United States, partly because the clinic serves elite clients and involves such a large amount.
The company responsible for payroll fired those involved in the error, making it difficult to trace the technical responsible parties.
Warning for Other Employees
Experts consulted by the American press emphasize that, even in cases of unexpected payments, the recommendation is simple: never move the money before notifying the employer and seeking formal clarifications.
By ignoring this step, the employee may be accused of misappropriation or even more serious crimes, as occurred in this case.
Retiree Wins Lottery Prize of US$ 83.5 Million, But Loses All of His Winnings a Week Later
Also in the US, another case involving large sums caught attention.
On February 17, 2025, a woman about 83 years old, residing in Montgomery County, Texas, purchased a ticket for the “Lotto Texas” through the Jackpocket app — a “courier” service that acquires physical tickets from legitimate stores for users online.
This ticket matched all six drawn numbers, securing her the prize of US$ 83.5 million.
Ban on Courier Apps
Seven days after the draw, on February 24, the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) officially declared that courier apps were not authorized under the current state law.
The justification was the lack of regulation and the risk of harming the integrity of the game. The measure became effective immediately, even though the ticket had been purchased days before.
Later, on April 29, the TLC formalized the prohibition of courier services during an open meeting, imposing penalties, including the cancellation of licenses for vendors operating with these apps.
Legal Action
On May 19, the winner — identified only as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit — filed a lawsuit against the state.
She claims she legally purchased the ticket before the rule change and that the retroactive ban prevents the fulfillment of a pre-existing legal obligation.
Her attorney, Randy Howry, argues that the TLC “cannot change the rules after the draw to avoid paying a legitimate prize.”
The lawsuit further claims that the TLC officially recognized the legitimacy of the ticket during the validation on March 17, but nevertheless refuses to release the amount.
Be the first to react!