FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A Fresno woman has admitted to stealing more than $1.8 million from the Fresno Arts Council.
Federal prosecutors charged 46-year-old Suliana Caldwell with wire fraud.
Caldwell was the council’s operations manager from 2021 to early 2026, overseeing finances like bank accounts, payroll, and grants.
Former operations manager for the Fresno Arts Council, Suliana Caldwell,{ }has been identified in a federal embezzlement case involving nearly $1.8 million. (File Photo of the Fresno Arts Council website via Wayback Machine)
Prosecutors say she began making unauthorized withdrawals in 2022.
They say the amount grew significantly after the Arts Council began handling millions in Measure P funds — a voter-approved tax supporting parks, trails, and the arts.
To cover it up, Caldwell falsified financial reports and presented them as accurate to leadership and local officials.
Authorities say she used the stolen money for gambling, vacations, and other personal expenses.
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She’s set to be sentenced on August 10th and could face up to 20 years in prison.