District Attorney Investigators Arrest 27 for Welfare Fraud
On May 7 and 8, 2018, criminal investigators from the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigationsserved 27 felony and misdemeanor arrest warrants for suspects wanted for allegedly committing welfare fraud in Tulare County. In addition, another four individuals wanted for felony welfare fraud charges surrendered themselves to the Tulare County Superior Court.
The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility or cited for alleged fraud:
-Melissa Basaldua, 26 of Porterville -Shaianne Boheman, 24 of Lindsay -Carlos Campos, 37 of Visalia -Sheyann Chavez, 25 of Porterville -April Crone, 39 of Porterville -Brandi Fettig, 39 of Visalia
-Maria Gallegos, 52 of Dinuba -Guillermo Gonzalez, 42 of Tulare -Monica Gonzalez, 32 of Porterville -Isidro Flores, 33 of Porterville -Rayna Hill, 28 of Woodlake -Charles Macias, 38 of Woodlake -Orlando Gonzalez, 36 of Tulare -Allen Hulsey, 60 of Porterville
-Lacey Laney, 31 of Dinuba -Enrique Yepez, 40 of Dinuba -Claudia Martinez, 38 of Porterville -Marlina Martinez, 25 of Dinuba -Patricia McCarthy, 42 of Porterville -Shelbi McDonald, 26 of Tulare -Dora Pablo, 38 of Porterville -Jaime Risner, 39 of Springville -Octavio Silva, 30 of Visalia
-Sharon Smothers, 59 of Porterville -Diane Soria, 57 of Visalia
-Daneilla Trevino, 31 of Porterville -Jacob Vasquez, 40 of Visalia
The total amount of alleged fraud in all of these cases, including the four individuals who surrendered not listed above, is over $140,000.
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 District Attorney’s Bureau ofInvestigations will continue to diligently investigate all suspected fraud committed against public assistance programs here in Tulare County. The Welfare Fraud Unit consists of eight investigators, two investigator aides, an investigations supervisor, and a dedicated welfare fraud prosecutor.
If the public has further information related to suspected fraud, contact the Bureau of Investigations at (559) 636-5410.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney David Alavezos (559) 636-5494