Twenty-Three Arrested for Welfare Fraud
Earlier this week, criminal investigators from the District Attorney’s Bureau ofInvestigations served 23 felony arrest warrants on several suspects for allegedly committing welfare fraud in Tulare County.
The following individuals were arrested and either cited or booked into the Tulare County Sheriff’s Pre-Trial Facility:
-Chris McCarthy, 50, of Porterville -Orlando Orozco, 38, of Porterville -Ines Pompa, 41, of Earlimart -Patricia McCarthy, 43, of Porterville -Cindy Sandez, 33, of Lindsay
-Joyce Bradberry, 32, of Porterville -Yesenia Sanchez, 35, of Fresno -Ja See, 32, of Visalia
-Claudia Orosco, 25, of Dinuba -Arturo Romo, 27, of Dinuba -Cassandra Brace, 52, of Visalia -Lupita Espinoza, 33, of Porterville
-Michelle Davila, 26, of Tulare -Joel Espinoza, 32, of Visalia
-Ashley Delgadillo, 29, of Dinuba -Benancio Orrostieta, 31, of Dinuba
-Gerald Rosser, 30, of Visalia -Daniela Lopez, 29, of Tulare
-Nancy Martinez, 29, of Visalia -Jade Blackwell, 27, of Visalia
-Shanice Finley, 30, of Tulare -Aaron Ford, 46, of Visalia -Donna Roderick, 48, of Visalia
The total amount of alleged fraud in all these cases was $378,163.
In 2018, the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations identified $989,685 infraudulent benefits, resulting in felony criminal charges being filed on 85 cases. 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. 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 they are not entitled to receive. The District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations will continue to diligently investigate all suspected fraud committed against public assistance programs here in Tulare County. If the public has further information related to suspected fraud, contact our office at (559) 636-5410.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494