FBI investigating former Fortuna City Councilmember Kris Mobley

I emailed the FBI spokesperson Cameron Pollan in San Francisco.  I have contacted Ms. Pollan before and heard back from her last September. While I have included the City of Fortuna press release, I am not adding any other information about the investigation or allegations unless it is released from the FBI.

"John,

Thank you for contacting our media office. I can confirm the FBI has an ongoing investigation. We are unable to provide any additional details at this time.

Best,

Cameron Polan FBI San Francisco"

Kris Mobley's photo and bio is no longer on the City of Fortuna website.

City of Fortuna press release:

The City of Fortuna is aware of an ongoing FBI investigation involving Kris Mobley, a member of the City Council who has offered her resignation to the City.

While the City remains committed to transparency, it is important to emphasize that this investigation is being conducted solely under the jurisdiction of the FBI. It is our current understanding that the alleged conduct under investigation pertains solely to Council Member Mobley’s private conduct and does not involve city business.

To ensure the investigation remains thorough and impartial, we are not in a position to comment further.

We ask for the community’s patience and understanding as the FBI continues its work. All inquiries regarding this investigation should be directed to the FBI’s field office. Any members of the public who have relevant information are encouraged to contact the appropriate authorities through official channels.

For any further inquiries, please contact the FBI’s public affairs office.

2/5/25: Mobley was indicted yesterday by the U.S. Northern District Court on three counts. These are the first two pages.

U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California press release (2/10/25):

A federal grand jury has indicted Christina Ann Mobley, also known as Kris Mobley, 58, on charges that she defrauded her former employer, a construction company located in Fortuna, Calif.  

According to an indictment filed Feb. 5, 2025, Mobley was employed as the business manager for a Fortuna construction company.  When the company’s bookkeeper retired, Mobley took on the accounting and bookkeeping duties, including inputting entries into the company’s accounting software and assisting with bill payments, payroll taxes, employee health benefits, government contracts, and other tasks.

The company maintained an account at a bank and had several business credit cards through the bank for its employees.  It also held a business credit card at another bank, where Mobley maintained at least two personal credit card accounts.  The indictment describes that Mobley’s scheme to defraud took on several forms.  Mobley allegedly directed checks mailed from the company’s bank account to be applied to the accounts for her personal credit cards; issued electronic payments of company funds to her personal credit cards; misused the company’s credit card for personal expenses such as cash advances at casinos and personal travel; wrote checks from the company to herself; inflated her vacation time, work hours, and bonuses in the company’s payroll system; and issued duplicate payroll checks and unearned bonus payments to herself.  Between January 2022 and November 2024, Mobley allegedly embezzled more than $500,000 from her employer.  

The indictment charges Mobley with three counts of mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and seven counts of wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343.  Mobley made an initial appearance in federal district court in McKinleyville, Calif., this morning, and was released on bond with conditions set by the Court.  Mobley is next scheduled to appear on Feb. 26, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin made the announcement.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Mobley faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343, a fine of $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions, and forfeiture and restitution.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Barry is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.