A Florida receptionist has been arrested for allegedly keeping and spending $400,000 in accidental overpayments, claiming she believed the windfall was a generous work bonus.
Yessica Arrua, 29, from Wellington, was charged with grand theft and money laundering after authorities say she spent more than half of the money on luxury items, transfers to family, and personal projects. She now remains in custody at Palm Beach’s Main Detention Center.
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- 4 Paid Like a Veterinarian, Lived Like One Too
- 5 Lavish Spending and Money Transfers
- 6 Confession and Partial Repayment
Paid Like a Veterinarian, Lived Like One Too
Arrua, who worked at the Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC) for nine years, had a $60,000 annual salary but was mistakenly paid as if she were a veterinarian—around seven times her actual earnings—from February 2022 to January 2023.
According to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, she knew she was being overpaid, but told police she assumed it was a “bonus” for her efforts. She said she had heard rumors that the previous receptionist had received a bonus for saving the clinic money.
“She’s been paid like a vet for a year,” an investigator noted, “and she never said a word.”
PBEC discovered the payroll error in early 2023 and contacted their provider, Harbor America, which initiated a review. By then, Arrua had already spent or transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars, investigators say.
Lavish Spending and Money Transfers
Police say Arrua spent the money at Coach, Michael Kors, furniture stores, and restaurants. She also:
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Sent thousands via Zelle to someone nicknamed “Mama Dukes”
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Spent $80,000 on a food truck for a friend of her mother’s
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Sent large transfers to family in Argentina to build a house
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Gave away $100,000, which relatives believed was a “gift from God”
Confession and Partial Repayment
When a veterinarian at the clinic—earning $450,000 annually—noticed she hadn’t been paid for months, her credit cards began getting declined. That’s when the mistake came to light.
Arrua reportedly broke down in tears and confessed when confronted by the clinic’s president, Dr. Scott Swerdlin, whom she’s known since she was nine. She wrote a cashier’s check for $200,000, but claimed she couldn’t recover the rest.
Arrua now faces felony charges for:
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Grand theft over $100,000
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Money laundering over $100,000
The case has raised questions about payroll oversight. Dr. Swerdlin said he wants both Harbor America and Arrua held accountable. Harbor America told police the employees who were aware of the error are no longer with the company.
