Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty on Apr. 20 to wire fraud after stealing more than $1.8 million from the Fresno Arts Council while serving as its operations manager, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
The case is significant because it involves the misuse of public funds intended for community arts and parks programs through Measure P, a tax initiative approved by voters in 2018.
According to court documents, Caldwell managed finances for the Fresno Arts Council from 2021 until February 2026. She began making unauthorized withdrawals in 2022 and increased her activity after the council received substantial Measure P funding—$9.4 million in August 2023 and another $5.7 million in October 2024—meant for local arts projects and services. Caldwell concealed her actions by altering financial reports presented to council leadership and other stakeholders.
Prosecutors said Caldwell used the stolen money for gambling at local casinos, vacations, and personal expenses between June 2022 and February 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fresno Police Department are investigating the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Joseph D. Barton prosecuting.
Caldwell is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Aug. 10, facing up to twenty years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine; actual penalties will be determined by federal guidelines.
The U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of California enforces federal laws through prosecutions of criminal violations across more than eighty-seven thousand square miles covering thirty-four counties according to its official website. The office maintains branches in Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield; it operates under the Department of Justice according to its official website.
