United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton announced on Apr. 1 that Renata Supina-Saltus, a former employee of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, has been charged in connection with an alleged wire fraud scheme involving approximately $750,000. Supina-Saltus was arrested and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in the District of Connecticut.
The case is significant because it involves allegations of financial misconduct within a diplomatic mission and highlights concerns about trust and oversight in organizations handling public funds.
According to federal authorities, Supina-Saltus worked at the Croatian Mission from July 2017 through November 2023 in a financial administrative role where she had access to vendor payment systems and was authorized to process invoices. The complaint alleges that over roughly six years, she used her position to divert funds from mission accounts into her personal bank accounts by submitting double payments for legitimate invoices or creating fake invoices from fictitious vendors and directing those payments to herself.
“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.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said: “Renata Supina-Saltus held a position of trust as member of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations. 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.”
Supina-Saltus faces one count of wire fraud with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and two counts of money laundering each carrying up to 10 years if convicted. Prosecutors note that these sentences are maximums set by Congress; actual sentencing will be determined by a judge if there is a conviction.
Clayton thanked law enforcement partners including Croatia’s State Attorney’s Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime as well as HSI teams based domestically and abroad for their work on this investigation.
