Sergio Zacarias Lopez, 57, a Mexican citizen residing in Fresno, has been arrested and charged with bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful reentry after deportation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced on March 20.
According to court documents, Zacarias Lopez carried out his fraudulent activities between January 2016 and June 2023 while employed as the accounting supervisor and controller for a family-run fruit wholesaler in Fresno. The fraud scheme involved writing multiple company checks payable to “cash” and depositing them into his personal bank account using local ATMs.
Zacarias Lopez allegedly forged the signatures of employees with signatory authority, including one of the company’s founders, in order to carry out the scheme. Through this method, he embezzled more than $1 million before the fraud was uncovered by the company and he was subsequently terminated.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office further reported that Zacarias Lopez had initially secured his accounting role by stealing a valid Social Security number and submitting falsified employment documents to conceal his undocumented status. He had previously been deported from the United States in 2000 and had not received authorization to return.
Zacarias Lopez now faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted of bank fraud. Additionally, he faces an extra two years in prison if convicted of aggravated identity theft or unlawful reentry.
The charges are allegations, and Zacarias Lopez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
