(Woodland, CA) – December 18, 2017 – District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on November 28, 2017, 43-year-old West Sacramento woman Bobbie Everett was convicted of misdemeanor welfare fraud. As part of the plea agreement, Everett was ordered to serve three years probation, serve 120 in county jail, and pay back the Yolo County Health and Human Service Agency (HHSA) $10,929 in restitution for food stamp (CalFRESH) benefits she illegally received.
On April 17, 2012, Everett applied for food stamp benefits. At the time she applied, Everett reported her income was $1,500.00 a month from working at a hair salon. On March 31, 2015, it was reported to the District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) that Everett possibly owned the salon where she worked. Investigators learned Everett owned the salon which was called “The Studio Salon” located in Roseville, California. Everett submitted multiple documents to HHSA under penalty of perjury from April 2012 to December 2015. Everett presented multiple paystubs claiming a constant pay of $1,500.00 a month. Everett denied receiving any other income while she received public assistance benefits and she never mentioned she was the owner of the business where she worked.
The Special Investigations Unit was able to obtain Everett’s true income which showed she was earning more income than she reported. Due to Everett’s failure to report her true income, she received an over-issuance of $10,929 in food stamp assistance from April 23, 2012, through December 31, 2015. HHSA relied on the reports submitted and signed by Everett to determine the benefits for her household. As a result of the inaccurate and false income reports, she received food stamp benefits that she was ineligible to receive.
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 their true income 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 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.org. Other consumer protection resources can be found at www.YoloDA.org.
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