Welfare worker stole $40K in benefits using identities of elderly, dead people
A representative of the Madera County Department of Social Services said the agency is “not taking interviews” and abruptly ended the call when reached for comment. AP
A California welfare worker has been accused of stealing the identities of elderly and deceased individuals in a scheme to fraudulently claim more than $40,000 in food benefits — then allegedly tried to pin the theft on a local gang member.
Madera County benefits eligibility worker Leticia Mariscal, 55, is accused of using the personal information of more than 15 people to obtain cash benefits, which she reportedly spent at Costco, Sam’s Club, and Von’s, according to prosecutors.
Mariscal, who previously worked for Fresno County, allegedly accessed county databases as part of her job and secretly approved the individuals for CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Prosecutors say she printed EBT cards in the victims’ names and used them for personal purchases.
Her actions were uncovered when the son of a 91-year-old nursing home resident noticed that his mother did not need food aid. Prosecutors say Mariscal used the elderly woman’s information to rack up approximately $3,000 in benefits. Security footage showing Mariscal opening accounts and making purchases reportedly led to her admission of the scheme.
Mariscal allegedly attempted to shift blame to a former boyfriend and local gang member, claiming she was afraid of him. Prosecutors say the ex-boyfriend purchased and sold the stolen welfare cards, including to Mariscal’s own family members.
Between December 2020 and April 2025, Mariscal is accused of stealing more than $40,000 in benefits. The case comes amid criticism of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), which administers CalFresh, for errors in benefit calculations.
Last week, the California State Auditor labeled the agency “high risk” due to widespread errors in eligibility determinations. The audit found that CDSS had a payment error rate of 11% in the 2024 fiscal year, largely due to inaccuracies in participants’ reported wages and salaries. This rate is roughly in line with the national average.
However, the high error rate could cost California billions under President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which ties federal SNAP funding to errors in state payments. In response, CDSS chief operating officer Julianna Vignalats disputed the auditor’s findings, arguing that the financial risk comes from federal requirements, not the state.
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