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Press Release

(Woodland, CA) – April 14, 2017 – District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that recently there were three separate convictions of welfare fraud in Yolo County. These three cases were investigated by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit. The DA’s Special Investigations Unit and the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency work to prevent and investigate Public Assistance Fraud. By doing so, they ensure that there are funds available to assist those who are truly 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 individuals in the home because it could result in lower public assistance payments.

Lucia Lomeli, 40, of Woodland, plead no contest to one count of welfare fraud. As part of the plea agreement, Lomeli paid back the Yolo County Health and Human Service Agency (HHSA) $8,602 in restitution for food stamps (CalFRESH) benefits she undeservedly and illegally received. Lomeli created and submitted falsified paystubs and failed to report her true household income in order to qualify for the benefits. HHSA relied on inaccurate reports submitted and signed by Lomeli to determine the benefits her household was eligible for. As a result, she received food stamp benefits that she was ineligible to receive. Yolo County Superior Court Judge Stephen Mock accepted the plea and 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 plead 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. Yolo County Superior Court Judge David Rosenberg accepted the pleas and sentenced Solorio to three years felony probation, 150 hours of community service and ordered her to pay $9,014 in restitution. Cisneros was sentenced to three years felony probation, 100 hours of community service and was order to pay $7,603.00 in restitution jointly with Solorio. The total loss to the County was $18,767. Solorio and Cisneros had already paid $2,150 since the case was filed with the District Attorney’s Office.

Nicole Wilson, 38, and Michael Wilson, 46, both of Rocklin each plead no contest to one count of misdemeanor welfare fraud. As part of their plea agreement, their charges were dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor. 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. Yolo County Superior Court Judge Janene Beronio accepted the pleas and sentenced both to three years misdemeanor probation.

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 Yolo County District Attorney urges you to contact us, toll free, at 855-4-YOLO DA or email us at: Fraud@yoloda.website-development.info/public_html. Other consumer protection resources can be found at www.YoloDA.org.

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