Four individuals were arraigned on felony charges related to their alleged participation in a scheme to accept more than $3.8 million dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Jose Refugio Carbajal (DOB 11/25/66), and Adelina Carbajal (DOB 03/13/65), both of Camarillo, were charged with 2 counts of public benefits fraud, 2 counts of grand theft, and 13 counts of money laundering. It is alleged that the Carbajals fraudulently accepted more than $3.8 million dollars in SNAP benefits at two markets they operate in Oxnard.
In addition, Karla Orellana (DOB 09/19/78), of Sun Valley, Antonia Penaloza-Penaloza (DOB 06/13/65), of Panorama City, and Jose Carbajal were charged with identity theft and conspiracy. Orellana and Penaloza-Penaloza supplied point of sale devices that allegedly facilitated the frauds.
The four defendants were arrested in May 2020, following a lengthy investigation conducted by the District Attorney’s Office Government Fraud Unit and the United States Department of Agriculture.
An early disposition conference is set for all four defendants on January 14, 2021, at 1:30 p.m., in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
This case is being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice
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It’s for the children! As for public policy and benefit distribution it should be that members of a particular ethnic group that BENEFIT from the distribution should not be ALLOWED to act as distributors. That is built in fraud and abuse as illustrated here.