Some California walnut growers were overpaid.

An estimated $17 million in overpayments to members of Sun-Diamond Growers of California may involve fraud, the cooperative’s vice chairman said. “There appears to be some misrepresentation of figures, and we suspect it could be fraud,” William Hosie said. The controller and shelling superintendent at Diamond Walnut Growers in Stockton have been placed on paid suspension. Diamond Walnut books indicate that some figures may have been altered to show good performance that would generate bonuses for certain employees, Hosie said.