Posted by patticakepatti on May 16, 2008 at 5:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Going to the poke' because she couldn't feed her family! Something tells me we're going to see a lot more of this in the near future regardless of whether or not they did it for survival or finanacial purposes.

What most people don't realize is that you can not live on just welfare and food stamps alone in Ventura County if you are a single mother doing things by the book. And don't get me wrong, I am in no way promoting it, just stating facts.

And I'm not saying I have sympathy for this lady, I don't. It was clear she was intentionally doing this by the fact that she submitted a false social security number.

Posted by CloudyDaze on May 16, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What complete lunacy. At $136 a month, it will take her nearly 25 years to pay off the court ordered restitution. Anyone who thinks she will pay this monthly for 25 years is just plain out there. She did this crime because she didn't have any money to begin with. I don't condone her actions one bit and jail is appropriate and so is restitution, but how can anyone honestly think she'll pay the whole amount back?

Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on May 16, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Going to the "poke" because you cant feed your family? - How many kids did she have? If you cant feed yourself, quit having babies.

Posted by venturadude on May 16, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's tough for alot of people right now. you just work a little harder or get a second job. they should of gave her way more time for the fake ss numbers. and lets not forget our taxes pay for these losers.

Posted by pjlove10 on May 16, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They should make her go door to door to pay all of us TAX PAYING citizens back. No sympathy for losers that knowingly take advantage of the system, no matter the reason.

Posted by slkrchck on May 16, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i got welfare for a year in 1988. it was just mailed out each month. when i worked, they deducted my earnings. i had the same balance every month. so instead i quit working went to the beach and collected money. i paid low rent and rode the bus. had no business having a child that i couldn't take care of. i felt like the biggest sponge/loser so i got a job. but i certainly wasn't hungry or living in the streets.

she's broken the law and will now pay. good. now let's pick up the rest. they lend a bad reputation to those truly appreciative of the services. those following protocol.

Posted by h2odog on May 16, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Poor Teresa! I bet if you look good and hard you will find several of her acquaintances doing the same thing. The system is ripe for easy pickings.
The people working for the Human Service Agency are too busy processing applications, instead they should be auditing the recipients who have been on the system for years and years!!

Posted by pific on May 16, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not bad for Ms Arias: Hmmmm lets figure the math:
Six months in jail and all benefits while she is in there(ie: doctors, dentist three meals, clean room and all the rights that convicted felons are entitled). All for $40,000.00 Does crime pay in Ventura county?????

Posted by LivinInPoorMansPV on May 16, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pjlove

That was my first thought! And she should pay triple, WITH INTEREST, like we all have to do in our daily lives.

Do you think we are going to see any of the money that comes out of our paychecks...SS etc?

She is a liar and a cheat, rot in hell!

Hopefully when the children are of working age, they will garnish there pay, to pay back mommy's debt!

"Do I look like a b****, then stop F****** me (the system) like one!"

Posted by cast on May 16, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

h2odog -"The people working for the Human Service Agency are too busy processing applications"How bout if i told you some of them help there friends get low housing that shouldn't.I know one family were the sisters all have good jobs and are all on sec.8.

Posted by rambone805 on May 16, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

THE ARIAS FAMILY ARE SOME GHETTO A** PEOPLE!

Posted by cast on May 16, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well the people i know of you'd never even know they were on sec.8. they all have new nice cars.but like i said before they are not doing this with out the help of there friends that work there.

Posted by bugmenot on May 16, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"quit having babies" isn't something you can do once you already have babies.

Posted by mamaof2 on May 16, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i'm glad this lady is getting jail time for this. 5 years she did this! now come on we all get desperate at times when we are in need but for 5 years? she deserves her sentence.

Posted by DoILikeJello on May 16, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Some people have plenty of money. They just want something for nothing and to them its worth the risk because how many really get caught? I knew people who were getting food stamps for YEARS and living with thier husbands who were making at least 60 grand a year. How can the people at the Human Service Agency not notice when someone is getting food stamps for so long without any report of income at all? How did she pay rent? how did she buy clothes for her kids? Why didnt she file a child support claim against her husband who was supposedly gone? how did she LIVE? Come on! it isnt rocket science!

Posted by mIssSIdekIck on May 16, 2008 at 9:46 a.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by 2smokingbarrels on May 16, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know about the rst of you but I am willing to help missSidekick some English lessons. If she can get a job speaking like that, than anyone should be able to get a job.

Posted by cast on May 16, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DoILikeJello thats my point some one in charge is turning a blind eye.I think her social worker should be investigated also.Trust me when i say it starts there.Catholic charities is the same thing.If you know the lady in the front room who works there ,then there's funds.

Posted by missing805 on May 16, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Its not that they cant afford it. Some of these people have nice cars, live in nice places. i knew someone who had a good paying job and she got her welfare and spent it o clothes and all that. And no people she was not mexican.

Posted by hotwildflower on May 16, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I saw a couple in Camarillo a while back paying for their groceries with food stamps while they both had on all name brand clothes...clothes I sure as heck can't afford. There is something wrong with the system for sure...

Posted by hotwildflower on May 16, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I saw a couple in Camarillo a while back paying for their groceries with food stamps while they both had on all name brand clothes...clothes I sure as heck can't afford. There is something wrong with the system for sure...

Posted by kenk9 on May 16, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

She will never pay the money back. $40,000 loan at 10% annual interest is $333 per month. She will be costing us $197 per month for ever.
Stupid tax payers, stupid judge.

Posted by cast on May 16, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Brucevacumesrooster what is your problem? what do you mean "i not care" don't you mean (I don care)?.

Posted by SayItLikeItIs on May 16, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The system is so broken. So she will spend six months in jail........ the state will continue taking care of the kids........... then she will be punished by having paying $136 a month, to pay back $40K? Come on guys, what about the $25K its going to cost us to keep her in jail for the six months? I think a better solution is to give her work release, perhaps she will be more productive cleaning highways or park toilets!

Posted by laurac10 on May 16, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

When she gets out of jail, she will have lost her job. She will then qualify for and receive aid. I wonder if her payback payments will be forgiven at that point, because, of course, she won't be able to pay them ...

Posted by dragstripgirl on May 16, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds like my boyfriends ex-wife

Posted by lovelylady52 on May 16, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

don't really feel sorry for her. when i was a single mom i worked two jobs, i applied for food stamps fincaial aid, section 8 everything to help. i showed everything that i was bringing in no child support and i was still denied, so when i see things like this, it just pisses me off that i struggled for 8 years with no assistance and this person got help because they lied. WOW!!!

Posted by lovelylady52 on May 16, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

they really need to peform an SURPRISE check on all the damn people that are on welfare...just show up to their houses unexpected! bet we would get that welfare cleaned up really good. i was on the list for 5 years! 5 years!! and i updated them every 3 months...got married had another baby and than they told me we make to much...because my husband was working over time...wow i am just so pissed about this!

Posted by cast on May 16, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it's all who you know hun.It upsets me as well.

Posted by h2odog on May 16, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Last month the Star ran an article on people waiting in line for two days to get on the housing assistance program. If my memory is correct, the story also said no new applications had been taken for almost 10 years.
My guess is that once you get in, then you never leave, unless you get caught. Like Cast points out in his/her posts, its who you know!
I would really like to know how many audits are run by the Human Service Agency each year?

Posted by cast on May 16, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

h2odog Thank you i've been heard.And i am a female.

Posted by bbski707 on May 16, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yep the system is broke, elect differant reps.

Posted by sparks240 on May 16, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Six months in jail and a money losing payback joke is no deterent to these scammers.

Posted by keepin_it_real on May 16, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This pisses me off too guys. Looks like we are all on the same page here. $136.00/month is not enough. Interest should have been compounded daily from 5 years ago and added every day until the balance is paid off. But we all know that will never happen. I would like to know what would happen if she defaults on the payments. She should also be banned from applying for any new welfare programs or assistance because of this.

I agree with the poster who wrote they should do surprise visits. I have never been any kind of assistance programs, divorced when my son was 2. Worked hard and with child support barely made it. But I made it. It wasn't all cozy and comfy but I made sure my son had a good life and he has grown up to be a fine young man and I have a beautiful daughter-in-law and she works too. They appreciate everything they have and they work hard for it. Now is my time, and I truly believe the sacrafices paid off. For the first time I am living my life very comfortly. Some of these scammers have better cars than I do, they have top of the line TV's and computers, cell phones and so on. They also cheat to get low income rates on their phone bills and other utilities, which we pay for.

This needs to stop!!!!! I agree, there is a lot more of this going on out there and these idiots need to pay. They are stealing our money!!!!

Posted by SUNNY on May 18, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it is a shame that so many people in need of financial assistance and can't get it!! Then there are the scumbags that lie and cheat to get it when they shouldn't!!! GOOD, she should go to jail for longer!!!

Posted by AleaSamos on May 19, 2008 at 3:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This gal stole money that should go to people who really need it. If she can babysit and clean houses then she can WORK!!! You can make an excellent living cleaning houses or being a day-care provider. She appears to have wanted her cake and eat it too. She earned money and lied to get even more money. I do not feel sorry for her. What she did was a criminal act. No sympathy here baby!

Posted by Relvd98 on May 19, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Me either.

Posted by West_to_East on May 20, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

LET HER GO ! ! ! INSTEAD OF BEATING HER DOWN ! ! ! SLAP HER ON THE RIST AND PICK HER UP. THATS WHAT'S WRONG IN CALIFORNIA AND MOSTLY VENTURA COUNTY. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HELPING EACH OTHER AND WISHING GOOD FOR ANOTHER. NOW ALL PEOPLE DO IS WISH PEOPLE TO BE CONVICTED AND THROWN IN JAIL, BUT WHY. FOR TRYING TO MAKE IT IN CALIFORNIA, FOR TRYING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES, FOR TRYING TO HAVE A PLACE TO LAY DOWN AT NIGHT.

CALIFORNIA IS AN EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE AND CONTINUES TO GROW IN PRICE, I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND NOW SEE WHY PEOPLE IN OTHER STATES JUST SAY GET RIDE OF CALIFORNIA. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE CALIFORNIA, BUT ITS WAY CHEAPER TO LIVE ELSE WHERE. AN APPARTMENT IN CALIFORNIA CAN BE A 4 BED 2 BATH HOUSE ELSE WHERE. SAME PAYMENT. NOW THATS JUST SAD

Posted by BorderCrossedMe on May 20, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Scandalous!!!!! She should have to pay the money back in the same amount of time that she was collecting (5yrs)... I can't stand f@#$%^& people like this. And she had to be hispanic too. Thanks for giving us law abiding hispanics a bad name. I'm a so disgusted with people like this. JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE ARE NOT ALL LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!

Posted by cast on May 20, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BorderCrossedMe take it easy it's only the ignorant people that think any one race is the same.Then when they really need to vent .They group two groups together.(darker shades of brown)I loves all peoples.We are not asked what race we want to be that is just giving to us.The choice of what kind of person we want to be is our choice.Bad in good in all races.

Posted by BorderCrossedMe on May 20, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Very true Cast.

Posted by kelly13 on May 21, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

For those of you bleeding hearts that think these criminals only do it to feed their families, check some of them out. They have money but they just want more. If you can't get by on what you have, work harder. If California is too expensive, move somewhere else.
People have got to stop defending illegal behavior. This woman lied, cheated and stole money from us. Don't make excuses for her. She knowingly used the system that was set up to help those who need assistance. She got caught. I hope they catch a lot more like her and make the punishment greater.

Posted by toofargone on May 21, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OK.. I agree that this whole thing is wrong. And you can bet that more of it will be happening with the prices of food and gas as high as they are.

First off, Once convicted of welfare fraud, you are banned from receiving welfare/foodstamps. So that SHOULDNT be a problem.
Next, If you cant afford to live in California, WHAT makes anyone think that you can afford to MOVE OUT of California. If you dont beleive me, go to one of the self moving companys websites where you rent a truck, do a "quote" of leaving California and just pick a state in the east. A moving truck is the cost of 4-5 months rent in a 2 bedroom apartment.

IF this woman has kids they are the ones that are suffering now.

As for seeing people using foodstamps to buy food and being dressed in expensive clothes, next time watch what kind of car they get into, and i will guarantee that it is a brand new/or atleast a couple of years old vehicle. WAKE UP people you are paying their car payments, their rent and for their food! Been happening for a long time, and if they dont put stricter rules on it, it will continue to happen....

they need a hotline of some kind to report possible welfare fraud that they can find people by vehicle license plate numbers.

Posted by ben_jimenez on May 23, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the whole welfare system sucks, they treat everyone who applies for it like they are stealing money from the government. They want to know every little thing you do like they own you. If they changed the program to get people jobs instead of just sticking them in programs that get them off of welfare as soon as they can the welfare system would be more help to more people. They changed the rules to please them, and they take their sweet time about doing any little thing for you. Try to get a hold of your worker for some emergency and it could take you up to a week. But when they need something they expect you to be there or call them in two seconds. The welfare system is just like putting a bandaid on a large wound. It's only gonna help so much. You could make more money selling drugs on the street then what the welfare helps you with. So why they act like they own you I don't know. You want to own me, then pay all my bills and help me find a place to live!