TOLEDO, OH – Sabina Serratos, 55, is trading her corner office for a prison cell after admitting to pilfering nearly $400,000 from the Hispanic community-focused nonprofit she ran, then blowing it on the tables at the Hollywood Casino Toledo. U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick handed down a 24-month sentence on July 28, 2025, following Serratos’ guilty plea in March to two counts of program fraud.
Serratos, formerly the executive director of Adelante, Inc., systematically siphoned funds intended for vital resources and assistance to the Toledo Hispanic community for her own personal gain. Court documents reveal she exploited her position and access to the nonprofit’s bank accounts – accounts flush with federal grant money – to line her own pockets. It wasn’t about need; it was about reckless gambling.
Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021, Serratos made repeated cash withdrawals totaling nearly $400,000 from the Hollywood Casino. This wasn’t a slow bleed; it was a calculated, sustained drain on funds meant to serve the vulnerable. The FBI’s Toledo Field Office uncovered the scheme, meticulously tracing the stolen money directly to the casino.
The 24-month prison sentence isn’t the end of Serratos’ financial woes. Judge Helmick also ordered her to serve three years of supervised release following her incarceration and to pay a hefty $534,539.98 in restitution – a sum that may prove difficult to meet given her newfound circumstances. The court is hoping the restitution will at least partially repair the damage done to Adelante and the community it serves.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford, of the Northern District of Ohio, prosecuted the case, presenting the damning evidence gathered by the FBI. This case is a stark reminder that even those entrusted with the stewardship of charitable funds aren’t immune to greed and self-destruction. The exploitation of community resources for personal enrichment will not be tolerated.
If you suspect fraud or financial wrongdoing, report it to the Department of Justice at justice.gov/action-center/report-crime-or-submit-complaint. Don’t let thieves like Serratos prey on those who need help the most.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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