Eight people, including an LA Metro and California EDD employee, have been charged in six separate felony cases with fraudulently obtaining over $177,000 in public benefits from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) after allegedly concealing tens of thousands of dollars in assets and/or income, including a million-dollar rental home, a profitable bakery and an investment account with a $1 million balance.
“Public benefits are a lifeline for struggling families, not free cash for fraudsters,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “While public assistance fraud is a small fraction of the total benefits distributed, even one person who takes advantage of the system is one too many. My office has filed over 340 cases this year alleging a staggering $4.8 million in government losses because of fraud and perjury committed by public benefits recipients. To anyone thinking about lying on public assistance applications in Los Angeles County, your assets and income will be uncovered, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.”
The eight defendants in the six recently filed cases are accused of repeatedly committing perjury on their public benefits applications and recertifications and fraudulently obtaining a combined total of $177,233.77 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits. These programs are intended to provide food, housing, employment, clothing, childcare, medical and utility assistance for low-income families…