⏱ 2 min read
A former Fresno Art Council manager bilked the organization out of $1.8 million in public funds, using the cash for personal expenses and casino trips.
Suliana Caldwell, 46, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after a year-long embezzlement scheme that saw her siphon off funds from the council’s bank accounts.
Starting in 2022, Caldwell, who managed the council’s finances, made unauthorized withdrawals from the accounts, using the cash to gamble at local casinos, fund vacations, and cover other personal expenses.
When the council received a $9.4 million influx of Measure P funds in August 2023, Caldwell’s theft accelerated, and she eventually stole over $1.8 million between 2022 and 2026.
The Fresno Art Council’s executive director and board members were misled by Caldwell’s falsified financial reports, which concealed the embezzlement.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
