A Clovis woman used her employer’s company credit car to rack up more than $4 million in unauthorized travel, health, and beauty purchases, federal prosecutors say.

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced the arrest of Kelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis on fraud charges Tuesday. In addition to the fraudulent purchases, Brown used her employer’s credit card to make down payments on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a Chevrolet pickup truck, prosecutors said.

Read the criminal complaint at this link.

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.

According to court records, between November 2020 and October 2024, Brown worked as a bookkeeper at a leading Fresno business specializing in custom countertops and commercial hardwood products. In her role, she had access to the personally identifiable information of employees, including the business’s owner.

Fraud Scheme Began in 2021

In early 2021, it is alleged, Brown recommended that the owner obtain an American Express credit card for business expenses. The owner, however, was not interested in obtaining an American Express credit card for himself or for his business, prosecutors said.

Nevertheless, two weeks later Brown gave the owner two American Express credit cards, one under the owner’s personal name and the other under the business name.

A few months later and unbeknownst to the owner, Brown allegedly obtained a credit card in her own name under the owner’s American Express account without his authorization and began her buying spree. It wasn’t until late 2024 that the owner discovered the scheme and fired Brown.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arelis M. Clemente is prosecuting this case.