Former Fresno Arts Council employee accused of $1.8M embezzlement to plead guilty

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A erstwhile worker of the Fresno Arts Council has agreed to plead blameworthy to ligament fraud of much than $1.8 million, each funds that had been earmarked to enactment section artists.

Court records amusement Suliana Caldwell, who served arsenic the Fresno Arts Council's operations manager, has been offered a plea deal, which she intends to accept.

Prosecutors accidental she took funds, including those for Measure P grants, and utilized that wealth to gamble astatine casinos, wage for vacations and different idiosyncratic expenses.

The woody says she could look up to 20 years successful situation and requires her to wage restitution successful full.

"Quite frankly, with the heartache that she's caused to the arts assemblage successful Fresno and with the information that she's been doing this for astir 4 years, I anticipation that she would get a stiff sentence," Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

Dyer says the metropolis is moving to determination funds successful the fund for Measure P recipients, who did not get allocated money.

Caldwell is acceptable to beryllium successful tribunal for a alteration of plea proceeding connected April 20.