Ont. woman accused of defrauding minor hockey association out of $78K appears in court

A former hockey association treasurer accused of fraud appeared inside a virtual Bradford, Ont., courtroom Thursday.

Julianna Dinino, 33, is alleged to have defrauded the Essa Minor Hockey Association out of about $78,000 between 2022 and 2024, according to the organization, which discovered financial discrepancies last year before reporting the alleged theft to provincial police.

Police revealed in late October that Dinino had been charged with fraud over $5000 and breach of trust. Police said at the time of her arrest $54,000 had been recovered from a former board member.

• Former board member charged with fraud after thousands reported missing from local minor hockey association

Investigators said the individual within the organization responsible for managing the association’s financials had committed fraud, and the police investigation began a year later in May 2025.

The minor hockey association told CTV News, in late October, the organization is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, and the “actions of this individual do not reflect the values or integrity of executive members and volunteers.”

The association said it has implemented “stronger financial controls and safeguards to ensure this situation can never happen again.”

Dinino, whom police said is from New Brunswick, is scheduled to return to a virtual Bradford courtroom in mid-January. The allegations against her have not been tested in court.