{"id":2523678,"date":"2025-12-21T06:57:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T11:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-charges-california-food-stamp-official-for-sending-benefits-to-dead-people-then-spending-them\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T06:58:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T11:58:22","slug":"doj-charges-california-food-stamp-official-for-sending-benefits-to-dead-people-then-spending-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-charges-california-food-stamp-official-for-sending-benefits-to-dead-people-then-spending-them\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Charges California Food Stamp Official for Sending Benefits to Dead People \u2013 Then Spending Them"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-charges-california-food-stamp-official-for-sending-benefits-to-dead-people-then-spending-them%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2523678&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>federal prosecutors have charged Leticia Mariscal, a former Madera County welfare worker in California, with conducting a multi-year fraud scheme involving CalFresh <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">food assistance<\/a> benefits. Between December 2020 and April 2025, Mariscal allegedly exploited her access to county databases to steal over $40,000 by improperly approving CalFresh benefits for elderly and deceased individuals, then printing EBT cards in their names and spending the benefits herself. The fraud was uncovered after a family member of a 91-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >nursing home resident questioned<\/a> the food assistance their relative was receiving. Mariscal admitted to the misconduct when confronted with security footage but tried to shift blame to a former boyfriend, claiming fear for her safety. She was placed on leave earlier this year, and if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The FBI and Madera County District Attorney&#8217;s Office lead the investigation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Federal prosecutors have charged a longtime California welfare worker with carrying out a multi-year fraud scheme involving food assistance benefits and dead people.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of former Madera County benefits eligibility worker Leticia Mariscal, 55, of Madera.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors alleged that Mariscal stole tens of thousands of dollars in CalFresh benefits by exploiting her access to county databases.<\/p>\n<p>CalFresh is California&rsquo;s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-edca\/pr\/former-madera-county-welfare-benefits-employee-arrested-improperly-using-other-peoples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According<\/a> to the Justice Department, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fla-officials-say-60-minutes-spinning-false-narrative-program\/\" title=\"Fla. officials say \u201c60 Minutes\u201d spinning false narrative program\">alleged scheme<\/a> took place between December 2020 and April 2025.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A former <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MaderaCounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MaderaCounty<\/a> benefits eligibility worker was arrested, charged for allegedly stealing more than $40,000 in CalFresh benefits between December 2020 and April 2025.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SkM8NYKyi8\">https:\/\/t.co\/SkM8NYKyi8<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cJuNEtwr8z\">pic.twitter.com\/cJuNEtwr8z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FBISacramento\/status\/1999625371268886611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Mariscal is accused of improperly accessing identifying information for elderly and deceased individuals.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said she secretly approved those individuals for CalFresh benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors alleged that she then printed EBT cards in their names. Benefits were then deposited onto the cards and allegedly spent by Mariscal herself.<\/p>\n<p>Federal authorities say that more than 15 identities were used in the scheme, The New York Post <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/16\/us-news\/calif-welfare-worker-stole-40k-in-benefits-using-identities-of-elderly-dead-people-feds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The total amount allegedly stolen was at least $40,000.<\/p>\n<p>The case reportedly came to light after the son of a 91-year-old woman living in a nursing home questioned why his mother was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-biden-makes-misleading-claims-when-slamming-house-gop-debt-ceiling-proposal\/\" title=\"Fact check: Biden makes misleading claims when slamming House GOP debt ceiling proposal\">receiving food assistance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators later confronted Mariscal with security footage, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n<p>She allegedly admitted to the conduct after being shown the footage.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said she attempted to shift blame to a former boyfriend she had described as a gang member.<\/p>\n<p>She allegedly claimed she carried out the fraud because she was afraid for her safety.<\/p>\n<p>Mariscal was placed on leave earlier this year after the fraudulent activity was discovered.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Madera County District Attorney&rsquo;s Office.<\/p>\n<p>If convicted, Mariscal faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of Leticia Mariscal, 55, a former benefits eligibility worker from Madera County. Authorities claim Mariscal illegally obtained tens of thousands of dollars in CalFresh benefits by exploiting her access to county records<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2523679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2025-12-17T123924.219.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[55858,4045,7076,34205,6909],"class_list":["post-2523678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-benefits-theft","tag-california","tag-doj","tag-food-stamps","tag-fraud"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2025-12-17T123924.219.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2523678"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2523682,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523678\/revisions\/2523682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2523679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2523678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2523678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2523678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}