(Woodland, CA) – August 17, 2016 – Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on July 28, 2016, Judge Samuel McAdam sentenced 41-year-old Gina Rinetti, of West Sacramento, to probation after she was convicted of welfare fraud. Rinetti had plead no contest to the felony welfare fraud charge on May 23, 2016. As part of the plea agreement, perjury charges against Rinetti were dismissed and all charges against Rinetti’s husband, Brian Rinetti, were dismissed. Judge McAdam also sentenced Rinetti to four days county jail, 18 months formal felony probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered her to pay Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) $5,218.00 in restitution.
While on public assistance from HHSA, Rinneti failed to report her true household income. She intentionally withheld information and falsely reported her income to the HHSA. Rinetti signed and submitted reports to HHSA knowing that they contained false information. HHSA relied on the reports submitted by Rinetti to HHSA to accurately determine the benefits that her household was eligible to receive. As a result of the false reports, Rinetti received benefits she was not eligible for. This case was investigated by the Yolo County DA’s Special Investigations Unit (Welfare Fraud Unit).
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Officer Special Investigations Unit and the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency work to prevent and investigate Public Assistance Fraud. The two agencies work to make sure 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.
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 the 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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