A man from Palm Springs has admitted to a scheme involving bank fraud and money laundering, which led to the embezzlement of over $1.3 million from two San Francisco law firms where he was employed. Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, who previously resided in San Francisco, held various positions at these firms and eventually became the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this role, he had access to the firms' payroll systems and payment platforms.
Court documents reveal that Archuleta-Perkins used his position to execute fraudulent activities. He set up a non-profit organization under his control and caused the law firms to make false payments to it, resulting in the theft of more than $1.1 million. Additionally, he manipulated payroll software to add "one-time reimbursements" or special bonuses to his paychecks, stealing over $106,000 through this method. Furthermore, he endorsed a tax refund check intended for one of the law firms and deposited it into an account belonging to the non-profit before writing himself a check for the same amount.
Archuleta-Perkins acknowledged exploiting the vulnerability of one of the firm's principals who was dealing with serious health issues during this period. In total, he admitted responsibility for causing losses amounting to at least $1,321,752.72.
He pleaded guilty to charges including bank fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) and money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1957. The potential penalties include up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district judge considering relevant guidelines and statutes.
Archuleta-Perkins remains free on a $500,000 bond following his plea on June 28, 2024. His sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California along with FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat is leading the prosecution with assistance from Madeline Wachs following an FBI investigation.