District Attorney Jeff Reisig has announced three separate convictions for welfare fraud in Yolo County.
Lucia Lomeli, 40, of Woodland, created and submitted falsified pay stubs and failed to report her true household income in order to qualify for food stamp benefits, Reisig said.
The Yolo County Health and Human Service Agency relied on the inaccurate reports to determine the benefits for which her household was eligible. As a result, she received food stamp benefits that she was ineligible to receive, he said.
As part of a plea agreement in which she pleaded no contest to welfare fraud, Lomeli reimbursed HHSA $8,602 in restitution for food stamps (CalFRESH) benefits. In addition, visiting Yolo Superior Court Judge Stephen Mock sentenced Lomeli to three years of informal probation and ordered her to pay $655 in fines.
Hilda Solorio, 42, and Jose Cisneros, 34, both of West Sacramento, each pleaded no contest to one count of felony welfare fraud. The plea agreement requires Solorio and Cisneros to pay restitution to HHSA in the amount of $16,617 for food stamp benefits and cash aid (CalWORKs) benefits they illegally received.
Judge David Rosenberg sentenced Solorio to three years felony probation and 150 hours of community service, and ordered her to pay $9,014 in restitution. Cisneros was sentenced to three years felony probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $7,603 in restitution jointly with Solorio.
The total loss to the county was $18,767. Solorio and Cisneros already had paid back $2,150 since the case was filed with the District Attorney’s Office.
Nicole Wilson, 38, and Michael Wilson, 46, both of Rocklin, each pleaded no contest to welfare fraud, in exchange for which the counts were dropped from felonies to misdemeanors. They must pay restitution to HHSA in the amount of $4,836 for food stamp benefits they illegally received.
The couple failed to report their true household income and knowingly signed and submitted false reports to HHSA in order to receive these benefits. Judge Janene Beronio sentenced both to three years misdemeanor probation.
These three cases were investigated by the Yolo County DA’s Special Investigations Unit, which works with HHSA to prevent and investigate public assistance fraud. By doing so, they ensure that there are funds available to assist those who truly are in need while holding accountable those who attempt to take advantage of the system by obtaining more public assistance than they are entitled to.
The most common type of welfare fraud occurs when individuals receiving public assistance fail to report income they receive or they fail to accurately report the number of people in the home because it could result in lower public assistance payments.
While government resources are dedicated to determining fraudulent action, the public’s attention to this issue is critical. Should you come across fraudulent activities in Yolo County, the district attorney urges you to call 855-4-YOLO DA or email Fraud@yoloda.org. Other consumer protection resources can be found at www.YoloDA.org.