FBI, Fresno Police investigate alleged $1.5 million embezzlement of taxpayer funds

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- $1.5 cardinal successful Fresno payer funds were mislaid successful an embezzlement case, according to metropolis officials.

The metropolis says the FBI and Fresno Police Department are investigating a long-time and present erstwhile worker of the Fresno Arts Council tasked with handling nationalist grants nether Measure P.

The measurement approved by voters successful 2018 is intended to guarantee backing for parkland attraction and creation, arsenic good arsenic recreation, community, and arts programs.

Last week, Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White notified the Fresno Arts Council that it volition terminate its declaration with the nonprofit, effectual Feb. 20, Fresno City Councilmember for District 1 Annalisa Perea said.

"The actions of this Fresno Arts Council worker is highly reprehensible," said Perea. "When we recovered retired astir it, our hearts were broken. We tin bash amended than this and we will."

Local creation organizations accidental they're not surprised.

"A assemblage of artists and arts-based organizations and taste organizations person been alert of the deficiency of transparency for rather immoderate clip erstwhile it comes to the Fresno Arts Council," said Omé Lopez of Dulce Upfront.

Lopez is portion of a radical that has been raising alarms astir transparency surrounding Measure P successful caller months.

Now that the metropolis is taking enactment and an probe is underway, Lopez says there's hope.

"I person anticipation for our assemblage of artists and taste bearers to beryllium capable to find commonality successful this tendency for seeing Fresno arsenic a vibrant city," said Lopez.

Still, immoderate section artists accidental they person not received funds they were expecting based connected agreements with the city, and person had to hold projects for respective months, successful immoderate cases.

Meanwhile, metropolis officials accidental the incidental is regrettable. Councilmember for District 3, Miguel Arias, says, unfortunately, it's not thing that's uncommon.

"The City of Fresno mislaid $613,737 successful a phishing scam successful 2020, and successful 2024 the Fresno Unified School District mislaid $2.3 cardinal to a akin scheme," Arias said successful portion successful a connection to Action News.

However, the metropolis says it is moving to code the impacts by terminating its declaration with the Fresno Art Council and reviewing its different contracts to guarantee due usage of funds.

Still, Perea said it's unclear if oregon erstwhile the mislaid funds volition beryllium recovered.

Action News reached retired to some the Fresno Police Department and the Fresno Arts Council for remark but has not received a effect arsenic of the work of this article.