"Caldwell admitted one count of wire fraud in federal court, with prosecutors stating that the losses mounted while she controlled key accounts and handled internal financial reporting."
"Investigators say the theft started in 2022, when Caldwell began making unauthorized transfers from the FAC's bank accounts to her own personal PayPal and to her bank accounts."
"Prosecutors said the amounts grew sharply the following year after new public money reached the organization, with transfers increasing significantly in 2023 after the council began receiving Measure P funds."
"According to the plea agreement, she altered and misreported the financial figures in the reports to make the reports appear as though no unauthorized transfers were occurring."
Suliana Caldwell, a former finance manager for the Fresno Arts Council, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after siphoning over $1.8 million from the nonprofit. Caldwell had authority over financial operations and began unauthorized transfers to her accounts in 2022. The theft escalated with new public funding, particularly after receiving Measure P funds. She manipulated financial reports to conceal the unauthorized transfers, maintaining the appearance of legitimate financial activity while misusing her position of trust.
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