$1.75 Million Fraud Scheme: TCSO Investigation Leads to Federal Sentencing
September 3, 2026 – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office officials report that Tuesday marked another major milestone in 
a complex financial crimes investigation led by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
What began with a report of stolen building materials ultimately uncovered a scheme that operated for nearly three years.
TCSO detectives determined that fraudulent purchase orders were being generated to obtain large quantities of building materials. The materials were then picked up, diverted, and sold, while falsified documentation was used to conceal the transactions and facilitate payment.
As the investigation progressed, detectives uncovered more than 118 fraudulent purchase orders, resulting in approximately $1.75 million in losses.
Investigators then followed the money.
TCSO authored eight search warrants involving financial institutions and payment platforms. The investigation identified more than $172,000 in unexplained deposits associated with one suspect and more than $180,000 associated with another.
The investigation also uncovered an additional $782,000 scheme involving fraudulent purchase orders for products that were never provided.
TCSO detectives worked alongside the FBI and federal prosecutors as the case moved into the federal system. During an interview at the Porterville Substation, one of the suspects provided a full admission to his involvement.
The investigation has now resulted in federal convictions and sentencing.
On August 24, 2026, David Ross pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 366 days in federal prison. On August 31, 2026, Eduardo Jara was scheduled to be sentenced. The two are expected to be ordered to jointly pay approximately $1.4 million in restitution.
The investigation ultimately identified approximately $2.5 million in total losses connected to the schemes uncovered by detectives.
This case required years of investigative work, financial records analysis, search warrants, interviews, and coordination with federal partners.
What started as a theft investigation became a multimillion-dollar financial crimes case. TCSO detectives followed the evidence, uncovered the scope of the scheme, and helped bring those responsible to federal court.
Source & photo: Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
