SAN FRANCISCO
Officials stated that a federal grand jury returned an indictment this week charging a San Francisco man with bank fraud and other crimes.
The crimes were related to a scheme in which he allegedly embezzled more than $1.2 million from his employers and local law firms.
According to the indictment unsealed this week, Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, started a non-profit organization called “Murrieta Valley High School 1994” (MVHS 1994), in 2013.
From 2017 to 2023, Archuleta-Perkins worked at two San Francisco law firms, eventually becoming the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He had access to the firm’s payments automation platform in this role.
According to the indictment, Archuleta-Perkins used his position to make unauthorized and fraudulent payments to MVHS between May 2018 and December 2023. These payments did not have management approval and had no justifiable business purpose.
Once the stolen funds were in MVHS 1994’s bank account, Archuleta-Perkins sometimes used them to pay personal expenses unrelated to MVHS 1994 or the law firms. He also wrote checks from MVHS 1994 to himself, depositing them into his personal bank account.
On at least one occasion, Archuleta-Perkins falsely endorsed a $41,663.69 U.S. Treasury check made out to one of the law firms, deposited it into MVHS 1994’s account, and then wrote himself a check for the same amount.
The indictment further alleges that Archuleta-Perkins used the stolen money for personal expenses, including payments on Best Buy and Home Depot credit cards, and towards the purchase, renovation, and improvement of at least three properties in California.
In sum, the indictment charges Archuleta-Perkins with eight counts of bank fraud, and five counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (otherwise known as money laundering).
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Archuleta-Perkins faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison on each of the bank fraud counts and a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison on each of the money laundering counts.
Archuleta-Perkins was arrested and released on bond. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Madeline Wachs.