Santa Ana woman sentenced for fraudulently collecting $10K in welfare benefits

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0533

Date: June 2, 2016

WOMAN SENTENCED FOR FRAUDULENTLY COLLECTING OVER $10,000 IN WELFARE BENEFITS FOR CHILD NO LONGER IN HER CUSTODY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman was convicted and sentenced yesterday, June 1, 2016, for fraudulently collecting over $10,000 in welfare benefits for a child who was no longer in her custody or care. Carolina Acosta Moreno, 36, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aid by misrepresentation over $950. Moreno was sentenced to one year and four months in jail and ordered to pay restitution.

At the time of the crime, Moreno was receiving welfare benefits from the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA). Moreno has received over $46,000 from the SSA.

In 2006, the defendant applied for and began receiving welfare benefits and food stamps after giving birth to a child. Shortly thereafter, several of the child’s relatives requested and obtained legal custody of the child.

Between Feb. 1, 2006, and June 30, 2013, Moreno received over $10,000 in cash welfare benefits and food stamps for her child from the SSA. During that time, the defendant saw her child on two occasions. The defendant kept all of the money that she received from the SSA and did not turn it over to the child’s legal guardians, who were caring for the child.

The SSA conducted an investigation and referred the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for further review.

Deputy District Attorney Nikki Chambers of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.

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