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
Bogotá and Paris? CA insurance boss takes series of taxpayer-funded trips, raising concerns
"He travels a lot... he's everywhere but his chair!" said a long-time state employee, formerly with the California Dept. of Insurance and California Dept. of Human Resources.
Camp Okizu: Parent shares Bay Area nonprofit's mission to support children with cancer ahead of gala
Camp Okizu's annual "Art Inspiring Hope" gala takes place Saturday at 5 p.m. in San Francisco.
Bay Area nonprofit SolMateo to host annual kitchen tour in support of mental health: Learn more here
SolMateo, a San Mateo County nonprofit, is shining a light on mental health support by hosting its annual kitchen tour -- combining a love for design and awareness.
State Farm exec fired after undercover video of his 'Tinder date' raises rate hike questions
"People want to be built in areas where they have natural areas around them for their ego... But also it's a f***** desert," said the former executive on a leaked and edited undercover video.
Fired NOAA scientists detail how federal layoffs could impact NorCal coast 'for generations to come'
Former researchers with NOAA are speaking out about the wave of federal layoffs, raising concerns about important work that could now be in jeopardy and how their dismissals could impact the Bay Area coastline.
'My neighbor's toilet?': Bizarre list of reasons why insurance companies dropped CA homeowners
Serious questions are being raised about some of the top reasons California homeowners are getting dropped by their insurance companies - including bizarre claims about toilets, pools, and outdated paint.
Sidney Yee Siu named Miss Chinatown USA 2025
Miss Chinatown USA crowned its newest winner in San Francisco. 13 women representing Chinatowns from across the country competed for the title.
State Farm asks for 'emergency' 22% homeowners' insurance rate hike in wake of LA wildfires
You could face a 22% rate hike if State Farm covers your home. The company sent a letter to the California Dept. of Insurance Monday warning of its "dire" financial situation in the wake of the Los Angeles County wildfires - requesting an "emergency" rate hike.
'It's a disaster': Here are top 10 Bay Area neighborhoods with the highest non-renewal rates
The California FAIR Plan has doubled in size since 2015, now accounting for roughly half a million policyholders across the state. 7 On Your Side analyzed thousands of records to see which Bay Area neighborhoods are facing the highest percentage of non-renewals -- forced to the state's insurer of last resort.
Trump executive order could divide control of CA's water system, putting distribution at risk
With a new executive order, President Trump is directing federal agencies to essentially assert control over critical sections of California's water system, claiming mismanagement as he tries to assign blame for the LA wildfires.