Federal prosecutors have charged a longtime California welfare worker with carrying out a multi-year fraud scheme involving food assistance benefits and dead people.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of former Madera County benefits eligibility worker Leticia Mariscal, 55, of Madera.
Prosecutors alleged that Mariscal stole tens of thousands of dollars in CalFresh benefits by exploiting her access to county databases.
CalFresh is California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
According to the Justice Department, the alleged scheme took place between December 2020 and April 2025.
Mariscal is accused of improperly accessing identifying information for elderly and deceased individuals.
Authorities said she secretly approved those individuals for CalFresh benefits.
Prosecutors alleged that she then printed EBT cards in their names. Benefits were then deposited onto the cards and allegedly spent by Mariscal herself.
Federal authorities say that more than 15 identities were used in the scheme, The New York Post reported.
The total amount allegedly stolen was at least $40,000.
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 receiving food assistance.
Investigators later confronted Mariscal with security footage, according to the complaint.
She allegedly admitted to the conduct after being shown the footage.
Prosecutors said she attempted to shift blame to a former boyfriend she had described as a gang member.
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