Corona assistant gets four years for $10 million fraud against Long Island couple
The 62-year-old woman stole funds from a former Salomon Brothers banker and his widow by cashing checks made out to herself.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
Catalina Corona, 62, of Corona, Queens, will serve four years in federal prison for stealing nearly $10 million from an elderly Long Island couple. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis handed down the sentence on Oct. 27 in Brooklyn federal court. He also ordered her to pay $9.6 million in forfeiture.
Corona pleaded guilty to wire fraud on April 8. She served as a personal assistant to Richard Schmeelk and his wife, Priscilla, for many years. Her duties included paying bills and booking travel for the couple, who lived in Lawrence, Nassau County, and maintained a second home in Palm Springs, Florida. Schmeelk died in May 2022. Corona continued working for his widow.
Court filings show Corona repeatedly deposited hundreds of checks written in cash from the victims' bank accounts. She made the checks payable to herself without the couple's knowledge. She used the stolen money to pay credit card bills and buy luxury items. FBI agents determined she spent about $1.1 million on Louis Vuitton merchandise. She spent about $125,000 on Cartier, nearly $300,000 on Gucci, and about $305,000 on Apple products.
To hide the purchases, Corona rented two storage units. Law enforcement obtained search warrants for her residence and the units. Agents found more than 300 luxury items stashed inside.
Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said the sentence holds the defendant accountable. "With complete control over the victims' accounts, the defendant was able to siphon large amounts of money at will, and on a breathtaking scale," Nocella said. He added that his office will vigorously prosecute those who exploit vulnerable elderly victims for personal gain.
James Barnacle, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office, described the fraud scheme as calculated and callous. "Let this be a warning to others that think they may fly under the radar with similar schemes, the FBI will follow the money, and criminals will be found," Barnacle said.
Schmeelk worked at Salomon Brothers for 40 years. He became a general partner and member of the executive committee. Before that, he served in the U.S. Navy submarine service during World War II.
