A Mexican national living in Fresno has been charged with embezzling over $1 million from a local fruit wholesaler.
The big picture: A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Sergio Zacarias Lopez, 57, for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and illegal re-entry of a removed alien.
- The indictment was returned last month and unsealed after he was arrested on Thursday.
Driving the news: From January 2016 to June 2023, Lopez allegedly abused his position as the accounting supervisor and controller to defraud a family-run fruit wholesaler.
- Court documents state that Zacarias Lopez would write multiple company checks payable to “cash” and deposit them into his own personal bank account.
- Zacarias Lopez signed the fraudulent checks using the signatures of other employees with signatory authority, including one of the founders of the company.
- He embezzled over $1 million through the scheme before one of the banks discovered the fraud, leading to the company firing him.
Go deeper: Zacarias Lopez’s deception started when he applied for the job.
- Court documents state that Zacarias Lopez stole a valid social security number, along with other falsified employment documents, to conceal the fact that he was an illegal immigrant.
- He had already been removed from the United States in 2000 and was not permitted to return.
What we’re watching: Zacarias Lopez faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted of bank fraud.
- The aggravated identity theft and illegal re-entry of a removed alien charges would result in a two-year prison sentence.
