Stephanie Sierra
From fraud and corruption to health care and public safety - her beat encompasses a little bit of everything.
Over the past four years at KGO-TV, she has been committed to exposing abuse of power and taxpayer money at every level of government. These stories have exposed well-known nonprofits, politicians, and influential billionaires.
In 2023, she won a regional Emmy for her investigation into a local county Sheriff accused of favoring campaign donors when issuing concealed carry permits. The story prompted action from the FBI's political corruption unit and the county Board of Supervisors. As a result, a local oversight organization fought to ensure accountability and transparency in future operations within the department.
Her investigations have exposed loopholes in numerous state laws that have resulted in added protections for wildfire insurance, medical billing, and regional cybersecurity practices. In April, her series on Oakland's ransomware hack revealed a pattern of oversight and negligence - causing dozens of people who had their social security numbers leaked but were never notified by the city.
In February, she exposed concerns about sex trafficking operations outside a grade school in Oakland that prompted action from local and federal authorities to install barricades and cameras to deter the crime.
Stephanie reported extensively on public health during the pandemic. Her work shed light on critical new medical technologies-including a Bay Area COVID-testing company that worked with the California Dept. of Public Health to save the State tens of millions of dollars with processing costs.
While at ABC7, her public health and consumer reporting have received multiple Emmy nominations from the Northern California Academy of Arts & Sciences and prompted action by the FDA.
She's also covered the gruesome murder trials of Chris Watts and Patrick Frazee in Colorado to the high-profile fraud trial of Elizabeth Holmes on the Peninsula.
Her passion for journalism started during her time at Mercy High School in Burlingame. "Career Day" transformed into a lifelong pursuit of storytelling. She graduated from the University of Missouri, majoring in broadcast journalism with a focus on investigative journalism.
After graduating, she braved the bomb cyclone blizzards and high altitude of the Rockies at the ABC affiliate in Colorado Springs (KRDO-TV) as an anchor and investigative reporter. Her year-long investigation uncovering the illicit massage industry in southern Colorado resulted in six women being rescued from human trafficking operations. It was honored with a regional Emmy and two National Edward R. Murrow awards. This followed years of consumer reporting on widespread contractor scams that prompted action by the Federal Trade Commission.
Stephanie is happy to be back home in the Bay Area, surrounded by the ocean views and majestic redwoods. You can often find her in San Francisco's Marina district with her 5-year-old dog Bubba!
If you have a story idea or want to say hello - contact her at Stephanie.K.Sierra@abc.com or on social platforms @StephanieABC7 & @StephanieKSierra.
Stephanie's Stories
Proposed changes would keep insurance companies from using marital status as pricing factor
For the past 30 years, insurance companies could factor in if you're single or married... charging more if you're single by arguing that single people statistically get into more accidents.
When's the best time to get gas? New report debunks morning fill-up myth
Some drivers swear that you can get more bang for your buck by buying gas at a particular time of day.
Lawmakers question California's legal protections as alleged squatters occupy $4M SF home
Families who live next door to the $4 million Sea Cliff home say they reported this problem for a year. But in states like Georgia, the people accused would have had to prove they belong there within 72 business hours.
Bay Area woman gets mystery tickets when another driver copies her license plate
Though a DMV investigation confirmed the plate "appeared to be a counterfeit," they told 7 On Your Side: "The license plate being used was not issued by the DMV therefore we cannot investigate or get involved."
FDA warning patients who received mammogram from California health facility
Have you received a mammogram in the last three years? There is a new warning over concerns about the quality of mammograms at one California health facility.
'Get them out': Alleged squatters take over $4.4M SF property, neighbors wait for city to act
Neighbors say alleged squatters appear to be taking over a $4 million home in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood. But they complain the city has failed to take action over the past year until now -- with the city attorney filing a lawsuit this week.
Salt in the wound: Recovery scammers target recent fraud victims
Beware of those who reach out to you after a scam and offer to help you recover your stolen funds.
Too Risky to Mail Checks? SF woman loses $14K in wave of Bay Area mail thefts, check washing fraud
Is it too risky to mail a check? One man was told his IRS check was likely stolen when thieves pulled up to a Post Office loading dock, emptied an entire bin of mail into the trunk of their car, and sped off, as a wave of mail theft and check fraud targeted Bay Area residents.
Alleged 'swamp water' gas tested for contaminants after car malfunctions on Bay Area freeway
After a scary freeway breakdown, an East Bay woman's mechanic noted that 'contaminated fuel' may have been the cause. "(My car) hopped like a bunny... I mean it wasn't funny at the time... I was terrified."
Doxo to pay $2.1M in settlement with Federal Trade Commission for allegedly misleading customers
Have you used online bill payment platform Doxo? The company is paying $2.1 million for allegedly misleading thousands of customers and charging unnecessary add-on fees.
