Today, the Honorable Judge James Hollman sentenced Teresa Herrera, 28, to three years in state prison, suspended, 365 days local custody, and five years formal probation. Herrera, from Dinuba, pled no contest on June 9, 2010 to one count of Welfare Fraud and one count of Perjury, both felonies arising from her receipt of aid by misrepresentation.

Investigation uncovered that, between June 2007 and June 2009, the defendant fraudulently received cash aid, food stamps, childcare and MediCal for herself and her family. She failed to report that the absent parent was actually in the home, and hid his identity by using a false name. The case alleged over $60,000 in fraud and a hearing will be conducted next month to determine the exact amount Herrera has to pay back.

This case was investigated by Maribel Reynosa of the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations, and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Marisa Maclennan.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani Jenkins, (559) 733-6411