Former Employee Of The Croatian Mission To The U.N. Charged With Embezzling $750,000 Through Fraudulent Invoicing Scheme

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Michael Alfonso, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging RENATA SUPINA-SALTUS in connection with a long-running wire fraud scheme in which she fabricated invoices to embezzle approximately $750,000 from her then-employer, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations (the "PMRC"). SUPINA-SALTUS was arrested and presented today in the District of Connecticut before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia.

"When someone is given access to an organization's finances, they are being trusted-plain and simple," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Renata Supina-Saltus allegedly abused that trust and turned the Croation Mission into a personal piggy bank, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars."

"Renata Supina-Saltus held a position of trust as member of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations," said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. "She's alleged today to have absolutely exploited that trust, enriching herself to the tune of $750,000. Financial crime and corruption undermine institutions and HSI will leverage our international footprint to aggressively pursue those who abuse their positions to benefit themselves."

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]

From at least in or about July 2017 through in or about November 2023, SUPINA-SALTUS worked at the PMRC in a financial administrative capacity. By virtue of her position, SUPINA-SALTUS had unique access to the PMRC's vendor payment systems and was authorized to submit and process invoices on the PMRC's behalf.

For approximately six years SUPINA-SALTUS used her access and position to carry out a fraudulent invoicing scheme to embezzle funds from the PMRC's accounts into her own personal bank accounts. SUPINA-SALTUS carried out this scheme by at least two different means. SUPINA-SALTUS sometimes made double payments for certain invoices, which typically involved an authorized payment to the vendor for the PMRC and then a second payment of the same amount to one of SUPINA-SALTUS's own bank accounts. At other times, SUPINA-SALTUS created fake invoices-sometimes from fictitious vendors-and billed them to the PMRC, but then directed the fraudulent payments to bank accounts under her control.

In total, SUPINA-SALTUS embezzled at least approximately $750,000 over the course of her fraudulent invoicing scheme and used the funds for her personal benefit.

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SUPINA-SALTUS, 59, of West Haven, Connecticut, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and two counts of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton thanked the State Attorney's Office of the Republic of Croatia, Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime. Mr. Clayton also praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, its New England Field Office and Attache in Vienna, as well as the New York City Police Department.

The case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Pavlis is in charge of the prosecution. The Department of Justice Criminal Division's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training Regional Resident Legal Advisor at U.S. Embassy Zagreb, Croatia provided assistance.