D.A. Bragg: Julie Vos Employee Charged with Grand Larceny


May 2, 2022

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the indictment of FRANCISCO LOPEZ, 36, a former bookkeeper for New York City-based jewelry company Julie Vos, for stealing more than $2.8 million dollars from the company between September 2014 and April 2021. LOPEZ is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree. [1]

“Francisco Lopez is charged with capitalizing on his insider access to steal nearly $3 million from a New York City-based business over seven years,” said D.A. Bragg. “I thank my Office’s talented investigators and prosecutors who followed the money, uncovering thousands of fraudulent transfers, to secure this indictment. We are dedicated to protecting businesses across our City from all varieties of theft, including fraud from the inside.”

In May 2021, the Manhattan D.A.’s Office’s Major Economic Crimes Bureau (“MECB”) began investigating financial irregularities in the Julie Vos accounts LOPEZ oversaw as the company’s bookkeeper. As alleged, between 2014 and 2021, LOPEZ regularly but discreetly transferred sums of money from the Julie Vos business accounts to his own personal bank and credit card accounts, while hiding those transfers in corporate expense tallies. LOPEZ used the stolen funds to pay for leisure and luxury items, including travel, jewelry, clothing, and high-end automobiles. LOPEZ’S systematic theft was uncovered in April 2021, when American Express asked Julie Vos about numerous transactions they observed from the Vos company accounts to pay for charges on LOPEZ’S personal American Express card. The Manhattan D.A.’s Office’s investigation ultimately revealed that, over the course of thousands of transfers, LOPEZ stole more than $2.8 million dollars from Julie Vos.

Assistant D.A. Aaron Ginandes is handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Julio Cuevas (Deputy Bureau Chief of MECB), Julieta V. Lozano (Chief of MECB), Chris Conroy (Special Advisor to the Investigation Division), and Executive Assistant D.A. Susan Hoffinger (Chief of the Investigation Division). Senior Financial Investigator Samantha Drofiak and Paralegals Anna Bruckner and Clara Parkus provided analysis and assistance with the investigation.  Discovery Analyst Pauline Davis assisted with discovery. 

Defendant Information:

FRANCISCO LOPEZ
Bayside, New York
 
Charges:

  • Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B Felony, one count
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, a class B Felony, one count

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.