Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
A federal grand jury has indicted Sergio Zacarias Lopez, a 57-year-old Mexican citizen residing in Fresno, on charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal re-entry of a removed alien. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the indictment was unsealed following his arrest.
Court documents reveal that between January 2016 and June 2023, Zacarias Lopez exploited his role as accounting supervisor and controller to defraud a family-operated Fresno fruit wholesaler. He allegedly wrote company checks payable to "cash" and deposited them into his personal account using local ATMs. These fraudulent checks were signed with the signatures of other employees with signatory authority, including one of the company's founders. The scheme reportedly allowed Zacarias Lopez to embezzle over $1 million before detection by a bank led to his termination.
To obtain his accounting position initially, Zacarias Lopez is accused of using a stolen social security number and falsified employment documents to hide his legal status. The indictment also notes that he was previously removed from the United States in 2000 and had not been permitted to return.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of bank fraud, Zacarias Lopez could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Convictions for aggravated identity theft or illegal re-entry carry penalties of two years in prison each. Sentencing would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It is important to note that these charges are allegations; Zacarias Lopez is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
