Fresno Arts Council Manager Sentenced for Stealing $1.8 Million in Public Funds

Fresno, CA. — A former Fresno Arts Council operations manager has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing more than $1.8 million in public funds and spending the money on gambling, vacations and other personal expenses.

Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, worked as the council’s operations manager from 2021 until February 2026. Her position gave her responsibility for the organization’s bank accounts, payroll, grants, donations and general finances.

Caldwell also provided financial reports to the council’s executive director and board members, as well as Fresno city and county officials.

According to federal court records, Caldwell began embezzling money in 2022 by making unauthorized withdrawals from Fresno Arts Council bank accounts.

Her theft increased substantially after the Fresno City Council selected the organization in 2023 to administer grant money generated by Measure P, a tax initiative Fresno voters approved in 2018 to support parks, trails, arts programs and other community services.

Caldwell eventually stole an average of more than $80,000 per month, prosecutors said.

She concealed the missing money by falsifying financial reports and overstating the balances held in council bank accounts. Caldwell presented the reports to the organization’s executive director, board members and others to make it appear that the organization’s finances were in order.

The court applied a sentencing enhancement because Caldwell used a position of trust to commit and conceal the crime.

“This defendant abused her position, betrayed the public’s trust, and siphoned away over $1.8 million intended to support parks, trails, and the arts in Fresno,” U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said. “She lied and falsified financial reports in order to use taxpayer dollars to fund casino trips, vacations, and personal indulgences.”

Federal prosecutors said Caldwell gambled the stolen money at local casinos, where she attained various VIP statuses. She also used the funds to pay for vacations and other unauthorized personal expenses.

The Fresno Arts Council discovered the theft in February 2026 after one of its checks bounced. Caldwell was subsequently fired and criminally charged.

FBI Sacramento Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh described Caldwell’s conduct as a betrayal of the public’s trust and said the sentencing demonstrated the agency’s commitment to investigating public corruption.

Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto credited cooperation between the Fresno Police Department, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office with bringing Caldwell to justice.

The FBI and Fresno Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody Chapple and Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.