Posted by AnnaWhaat on November 17, 2007 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Some will always find a way to get around the system. As such , the social security card she falsely used. It does concern me that it took about six years to figure out she was ripping off the system.

Posted by clementine on November 17, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

These people are smarter than they look!!!! I thought I was smart, but I wouldn't know how to "steal" & get away with it for so long.

Posted by pjlove10 on November 17, 2007 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Typical trash. I hope they make her pay it all back. It's only right.

Posted by SueSue on November 17, 2007 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bye bye for 3 years. No time off for good behavior. They should give her extra time for "bad behavior".

Posted by SueSue on November 17, 2007 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now that I think about it, she should get 1 year for each year she ripped off the system.

Posted by opfor2 on November 17, 2007 at 7:13 p.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by desdave on November 17, 2007 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our social services are stretched and under staffed. The system is easy to cheat, and they only catch the occasional knucklehead like this one. And I don't think you have to show proof of legal residency either.

Posted by spokenit on November 18, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is actually one of the biggest cases of fraud? Start looking deeper people. You will find all kinds. This is just one that got caught and is now in the radar. Do a check on ALL of the people and you will find more people ripping off the system because they can. Government assistance is a joke. They need to do a sweep so to speak on the social services department. You will find millions upon millions of wrong doings. But that might require work. So this one that fell into their lap will have to be their big pat on the back for the century.

Posted by QuestionAuthority on November 18, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Who remembers when Public Assistance was termed “BEING ON THE DOLE”? It was shameful to be on Welfare and most families would do ANYTHING they could to survive without having to be embarrassed by Being On The Dole. Nowadays… its simply a Color Blind WAY OF LIFE. The System needs to be Seriously Cleaned Up.

Posted by Concious on November 19, 2007 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This sort of news brings only one thing to mind. Taxes, taxes, and more taxes. We need to change some welfare laws.

Posted by latina79 on November 19, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would blame to case worker as well. She obviously wasn't doing her job in verifing the information she was given. There are actually people that need assistance, like child care, and me being a working mother, can't even get that from the county. Not fair...at all.

Posted by lola on November 19, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with you latina79, some case workers just don't seem to care and are to lazy to do their job!!

Posted by BeReal on November 19, 2007 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I pretty much agree with all of these comments, except the ones referring to this person as "trash" and "c---roach".

Seems a little immature! Name calling???

Posted by lola on November 19, 2007 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They should also charge or fire the case worker(s) with fraud for not doing their job correctly.

Posted by lxgnzls on November 19, 2007 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

my mother stole money from welfare but I cant go to the police cuz it would make me look bad. does anyone have advice as to how I can turn her in?

Posted by rodrigmr on November 19, 2007 at 9:24 p.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by ShelleyCam on November 20, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

lxgnzls-they have anyonymous tip lines, if you really want, you can contact the Ventura County DA: "Anyone with information about possible fraudulent activity can report the information to the Welfare Fraud Hotline at (805) 477-1605". As indigogirl stated there may be some harsh consequences for fraud. It is a different county, but LA county has a webpage with some who have been convicted and what their punishment was.
http://da.countyofventura.org/welfare...
Maybe you can send your mom an anyonymous letter saying she will be turned in if she does not turn herself in. Is she still collecting or was this just something from the past? I’ll be praying for you and your Mom. That is a very tough situation to be in!

Posted by ShelleyCam on November 20, 2007 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oops, this is the link for the LA County persons who have been convicted:
http://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/fraud/f...

Posted by donutsrus on November 20, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

if the city really wanted to catch people with welfare and housing fraud they should go to Felicia Court in Oxnard. I used to live there with my Mom and brother till we left no longer needing to use the housing authority and it's blatant fraud there. The housing authority should take pictures of all the new cars in front of each house and believe me there's alot. People not on the lease, sleeping in the pantry, in the living rooms, 2 and 3 to a room. Not kidding, I saw it and used to get so angry that my mom and I paid $750 per month for her, myself and little brother because rent is 1/3 of take home pay and other would be so much less but have so many more people living there. Oxnard are u reading this?!!!

Posted by Cathain on November 20, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"There are actually people that need assistance"

Where's the proof that this woman didn't? As many posters here have said, public assistance is a joke, and alot of people who need help can't get it. I know growing up, my mom didn't qualify for assistance, and so she had to work 3 jobs just to support us. It's ridiculous.
This woman may very well have needed the assistance, and been desperate. Who knows her situation? Can you judge?

Theft isn't right, but honestly... "tie her to a cross and make her confess"? Should she have a hand chopped off too?

I don't know what bothers me more, the lack of compassion people who post here show, or the barely concealed glee you all take in someone else's misfortunes. Shame on you.

Posted by Cathain on November 20, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By all means, Indigogirl, celebrate someone else's misfortune. If that actually makes you "happy" then I'm glad I'm not you.

And, you know, as taxpayers we're supporting a heck of a lot that I don't agree with - the war in Iraq, skyrocketing gas prices, the latest scheme to build a fence to keep 'undesirables' out. So if my taxpayer dollars go to those who need assistance, I'm fine with that. I love all those people who start crying about their taxpayer dollars as soon as they see something like this in the news, it must make it so much easier for you to generalize and lump everyone into either the "criminal" or the "welfare mamma" category. How lucky for you to have no conscious to bother you when you condemn people out of hand.

AND: I'd much rather my taxpayer dollars went to healthcare, government aid, and education. Especially education - maybe the next generation won't be as compassionless and vindictive if we spend more in education and assistance than in punishment and war.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on November 21, 2007 at 5:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

indigogirl ,I agree ! Turning in your own Mother! Geezzz what kind of anger does this person have to be so cruel. Did she not give him enough allowance?

Posted by imbetnonit on November 21, 2007 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I thought welfare was "temporary" help. 5 years is half a decade!

Posted by Josie_Contreres on November 23, 2007 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't understand why some people who have commented here believe it to be ok for this woman (and many others out there) to break the law... and for so many years. It doesn't matter what her economic situation is or was... it is WRONG to "steal", and that is exactly what she was doing... for five years. Stealing from the rest of we law abiding citizens who work very hard every day to raise and provide for our families, and do it legally. The same as it would be WRONG for her to snatch someone's purse or wallet, or to break into someones home and steal what ever was there of value. I am ashamed of those who think it's ok to live off the backs of others.

Posted by ibmorena on November 27, 2007 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For all of your information....i actually worked with the lady and let me tell you she never needed any "assistance" i mean do you call working "double" shifts maybe to get "extra money" low income. as far as i can remember welfare was for people who didnt have jobs, and me being under the age of 26 would be well embarresed of being on welfare.

Posted by ed1pfa on November 30, 2007 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cathain:
It's apparent that you didn't read the article completely. She did not qualify for the welfare assistance, and to make matters worse she used a fraudulant Social Security number!
Your comments on this matter make it sound you condone the attitude "you are poor, but go ahead and rip off the government." Also, the posters are not celebrating her misfortune. They are condemning her actions. Her act of deception is not a misfortune, it is outright theft.
There are persons who need welfare relief and I can support that. But the welfare system is riddled with problems, that dishonest people like Arias take advantage of a broken system.