GREENFIELD — Greenfield resident Ilda Sanchez, 53, was sentenced Oct. 30 for committing welfare fraud, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Sanchez was placed on a two-year felony probation and was ordered to serve 180 days in county jail as part of the probation.
From September 2021 through May 2023, Sanchez obtained a total of $13,092 for CalFresh benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps) and CalWORKS (cash aid) from the Department of Social Services, falsely claiming that she had physical custody and care of her minor daughter in the same residence.
During this time, however, the daughter was living and attending high school in Sonoma County under the care of her relative.
“Sanchez would not be eligible to receive $13,092 in welfare benefits if she truthfully reported her daughter’s whereabouts,” stated the DA’s Office in a news release. “Sanchez was criminally prosecuted for her fraudulent conduct, and she pled to and was convicted of commercial burglary, a felony.”
Sanchez was ordered to pay full restitution back to the Department of Social Services. She will be supervised by the Monterey County Adult Probation for the next two years.
The case was investigated by District Attorney Investigator Nancy Bruno and the Monterey County Welfare Fraud Special Investigations Unit.
“Monterey County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals who fraudulently obtain public assistance and defraud the People of the State of California,” stated the DA’s Office.
