Valley residents arrested for alleged welfare fraud. Investigations continue
Twenty-one people across the central San Joaquin Valley have been arrested for alleged welfare fraud last week by criminal investigators with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.
The total amount of alleged fraud committed by these people in Tulare County was nearly $192,000.
The arrested are from Visalia, Tulare, Earlimart, Reedley, Fresno, Porterville, Dinuba, Orosi and Richgrove.
“It is a felony for an individual to make a false statement or misrepresentation of material facts in order to obtain over $950 of aid that they were not entitled to receive,” the DA’s office said in a news release Monday, promising to “continue to diligently investigate all suspected fraud.”
Suspected fraud can be reported to the district attorney’s office at 559-636-5410.
In 2019, the bureau filed felony criminal charges in 79 cases against people who allegedly collectively received more than $725,000 in fraudulent benefits.
“The fraudulent activity in these cases included activities such as failing to report income, failing to report changes in household composition, and the trafficking of EBT benefits for financial gain,” officials said.
The following individuals were arrested last week for alleged welfare fraud. They were either booked into the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility or cited and released.
▪ Angelica Aceves, 35, of Visalia
▪ Cynthia Hernandez, 22, of Tulare
▪ Julieanna Aguilera, 27, of Earlimart
▪ Elizabeth Huerta, 45, of Visalia
▪ Lynette Barba, 38, of Visalia
▪ Celina Maldonado, 36, of Tulare
▪ Jesenia Becera, 39, of Reedley
▪ Karla Mejia, 37, of Visalia
▪ Sheila Bell, 34, of Fresno
▪ Orlando Orozco, 39, of Porterville
▪ Kay Bland, 34, of Visalia
▪ Vanessa Saesee, 23, of Visalia
▪ Marisella Calvillo, 35, of Dinuba
▪ Lorena Sanchez, 27, of Orosi
▪ Rosa Castaneda, 40, of Visalia
▪ Maria Simental, 37, of Richgrove
▪ Patricia Castro, 55, of Visalia
▪ Yvette Stanley, 60, of Visalia
▪ Lupita Espinoza, 34, of Porterville
▪ Primavera Trevino, 38, of Fresno
▪ Dianna Estrada, 26, of Visalia
▪ Celina Maldonado, 36, of Tulare
▪ Veronica Villalon, 39, of Tulare
