Seventeen people accused of $1.2 million in welfare fraud
By: North County Times wire services | ∞
LOS ANGELES -- Ten of 17 people accused of cheating to collect $1.2 million in welfare payments were arrested Thursday, prosecutors said.
The alleged cheating was a "tragic looting of the public treasury," said James Cosper, head deputy district attorney of the Welfare Fraud Division.
Of the $1.2 million, more than $600,000 was allegedly taken from agencies that care for children whose parents work, Cosper said.
Carolyn Ann Jones, 44, and her husband, Darrell Carey, 48, of Los Angeles; Kathy Goldenreed, 28, of Lancaster; Denetrice Spencer, 36, of Long Beach; Annttoniette Spriggs, 30, and Latoya Wilbert, 22, both of Palmdale; Pogos Aslanyan, 45, of Glendale; his brother, Ruben Aslanyan, 35, of Montebello; and Annie Rassam, 35, and Issa Rassam, 40, both of Panorama City, were arrested Thursday.
Other defendants include Pogos Aslanyan's estranged wife, Shnorik Aslanyan, 38, of Glendale; Walter Goode Jr., 48, Jovaun Golden, 29, and Bessie Golden- Jones, no age available, of Lancaster; Alfonso Perry, 59, a transient; and 39- year-old Dana Lowe of Compton.
Golden is in jail on another case and Shnorik Aslanyan is expected to surrender tomorrow. The others are still being sought.
All are expected to be arraigned tomorrow or Monday, according to the District Attorney's Office.
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