In deal with prosecutors, Suliana Caldwell will plead guilty to Measure P embezzlement, Bee reports
By Doug Hoagland
The former operations manager at the Fresno Arts Council has confessed to embezzling more than $1.8 million as the nonprofit administered millions for Measure P arts grants, The Fresno Bee reported on April 9.
The saga of Measure P: See past coverage in The Munro Review’s comprehensive archive
Suliana Caldwell, the operations manager, used the money to gamble at area casinos and pay for vacations and other personal expenses, according to court documents cited by The Bee.
In a deal with prosecutors, Caldwell will appear in federal court on April 20 to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and agree to pay restitution of no more than $1.8 million.
Fresno voters approved Measure P in 2018. It’s a ⅜-of-a-cent increase to the sales tax for 30 years to improve the city’s parks and finance competitive arts grants.
The measure generates approximately $5 million a year for the grants, and the Fresno Arts Council administered the program from 2023 until February 2026 when officials disclosed the embezzlement. The City’s parks department is now administering the arts grants.
Steph
1.8 million and only one count of wire fraud.
Don’t let that give you pause folks.
That one little wire fraud count can carry a 20-year sentence.
I hope she won at the casinos cuz there are a lot of artists wanting their share of the 1.8mil.