“The honest, hardworking people in California are grateful to local, state and federal investigators who work to identify, arrest and assist in the prosecution of those who scam and steal from individuals and public funds.  This investigative work can be lengthy and complicated. We appreciate these law enforcement efforts and the orders of restitution.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

FRESNO— On March 20, 2023, Charles Abieanga, 31, of Bakersfield, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison and his brother Simon Abieanga, 28, of Bakersfield, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for their roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Charles Abieanga was ordered to pay $505,695 in restitution, and Simon Abieanga was ordered to pay $326,832 in restitution.

According to court documents, Charles Abieanga was sentenced for his role in three different fraud schemes:

• The first scheme involved submitting false claims to the California Employment Development Department and obtaining benefits associated with those claims.
• The second scheme involved impersonating a supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) and defrauding hospitals by selling non-existent medical supplies including surgical gowns and N-95 protective masks.
• The third scheme involved the sale of non-existent pets, horses, and vehicles to victims online.

Simon Abieanga was sentenced for his role in two separate, but similar, fraud schemes:

• The first scheme involved submitting false claims to the California Employment Development Department and obtaining benefits associated with those claims.
• The second scheme involved the sale of non-existent pets, horses, and vehicles to victims online.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the California Employment Development Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department.