Woman Who Stole $26K Meant To Pay For Funeral Arrested In MD

ARLINGTON, VA — A woman accused of stealing more than $26,000 from a GoFundMe campaign meant to pay for the funeral expenses of a distant relative was arrested in Maryland, according to Arlington County Police.

On Nov. 24, 2023, police received a report that Yesenia Elizabeth Amaya, 33, offered to set up a GoFundMe campaign in September 2023 to help raise money for the family of a relative in Arlington who had died.

“There was a significant community response to this fund and over $26,000 had been raised. … Prior to police notification, it was learned that Amaya withdrew funds from the GoFundMe account and that the funds were not used for their intended purpose,” police said in April.

Investigators obtained arrest warrants for Amaya, charging her with obtaining money by false pretense, computer fraud and embezzlement.

• Related: Donations Meant To Pay For Funeral Stolen; Relative Sought By Police

"Following a community tip and coordination with Landover Hills PD, Ms. Amaya was apprehended and served with the outstanding Arlington County warrants," according to a post on ACPD's official X account. "She was extradited to the Commonwealth of Virginia and is being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility."

Amaya was arraigned Friday morning in Arlington General District Court and has a bond hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, according to court documents. Her preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 7.

The embezzlement of more than $1,000 and the obtaining money of more than $1,000 by false pretenses are unclassified felonies, according to court records.

The computer fraud: larceny/embezzlement of more than $1,000 is a Class 5 felony. If Amaya is found guilty on this charge, she faces a potential sentence is one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.

In April, GoFundMe released this statement concerning the alleged theft:

"GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and those who seek to take advantage of the generosity of others. Donors are protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee and we worked directly with the intended beneficiary to deliver the total amount raised to her. In the rare case of misuse, we take swift action. In this instance, the organizer account has been banned from using the platform for any future fundraisers and we are cooperating with law enforcement’s investigations into those accused of wrongdoing."

Amaya Pleaded Guilty In 2011 To Taking $30K From DC Office: FBI

This is not the first time Amaya has been in trouble over money. In 2011, she pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property for stealing more than $30,000 in checks from the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer, according to the FBI.

“As part of the plea, Amaya admitted that she was employed by a building services company and worked evenings cleaning the Southwest Washington offices of the Economic Development and Regulation Center. Between July 28, 2010 and November 16, 2010, she took about 30 checks from an office. Each check had originally been made payable to the District,” according to court records.

Amaya added her name as a payee and deposited the checks into her bank account in Maryland, according to evidence presented in the case. When investigators contacted her, she admitted to taking the checks. On July 29, 2011, Amaya was sentenced to three months of incarceration by a federal judge.