A Fresno fruit wholesaler’s former controller has been indicted for allegedly embezzling over $1 million, committing bank fraud, and illegally re-entering the U.S. (Shutterstock)
Share
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A federal grand jury has indicted a Mexican citizen residing in Fresno on charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal re-entry of a removed person, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
Related Story: Fresno Man Sentenced for Having 146 Pounds of Fentanyl, Cocaine
The indictment, returned on Feb. 27 and unsealed following the arrest of Sergio Zacarias Lopez, 57, on Thursday, alleges that between January 2016 and June 2023, he embezzled more than $1 million while working as the accounting supervisor and controller for a Fresno fruit wholesaler.
Prosecutors say Lopez wrote multiple company checks payable to cash and deposited them into his personal bank account, forging the signatures of employees with signatory authority, including one of the company’s founders.
Related Story: Fresno Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash Identified
Lopez allegedly used a stolen Social Security number and falsified employment documents to obtain his accounting position. According to the indictment, he was previously removed from the U.S. in 2000 and had not been authorized to return.
The FBI and the Fresno Police Department investigated the case.
Related Story: Fresno County Deputies Rescue Dogs Trapped in Friant Kern Canal
If convicted, Lopez faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud, prosecutors said.
The illegal re-entry and identity theft charges each carry a maximum two-year sentence. Any sentence would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and federal sentencing guidelines.
—
Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.
