Fresno Man Indicted on Fraud and Identity Theft Charges
Fresno, CA (KSEE/KGPE) – A federal grand jury has indicted Sergio Zacarias Lopez, a 57-year-old Mexican citizen residing in Fresno, on multiple charges including bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith revealed the indictment, which was unsealed following Lopez’s arrest on Thursday. The charges encompass bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal re-entry into the United States after being removed from the country.
Court documents indicate that between January 2016 and June 2023, Lopez allegedly exploited his position as accounting supervisor and controller at a family-owned fruit wholesaler in Fresno to perpetrate fraud. According to the DOJ, Lopez wrote numerous company checks payable to “cash” and then deposited them into his personal bank account using local ATMs. Beckwith stated that Lopez is also accused of forging the signatures of other employees with signatory authority, including that of one of the company’s founders, to sign the fraudulent checks.
Authorities allege that Lopez embezzled over $1 million before the fraud was detected by a bank, leading to his termination from the company. To secure his accounting position, Lopez is accused of stealing a valid social security number and using it along with falsified employment documents. The DOJ also reported that Lopez was previously removed from the U.S. in 2000 and is not permitted to return.
If convicted of bank fraud, Lopez faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The DOJ says that if convicted of aggravated identity theft or illegal re-entry, he faces a penalty of two years in prison.
