Greenfield couple pleads guilty to felony receiving aide by misrepresentation

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Thursday, March 8 that 37-year-old Maria Cabrera and 34-year-old Frank Salas of Greenfield, pled guilty to felony receiving aide by misrepresentation. The plea was taken by Monterey County Superior Court Judge Andrew Liu. Between the dates of June 1, 2016 and May 1, 2017, both Cabrera and Salas were living together and receiving cash aide and food stamps. They claimed they were unemployed and needed the aide to support their family. A subsequent investigation conducted by the Department of Social Services and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office revealed that both Cabrera and Salas were employed during the fraud period and were receiving income well above their income threshold level to receive benefits. In addition, it was discovered that both individuals had misrepresented their income on their eligibility status reports to the Department of Social Services. This misrepresentation resulted in a total overpayment of benefits of $30,628.00. Cabrera and Salas will be sentenced by Judge Liu on April 11, 2018. Both defendants are facing 3 years of formal felony probation, up to 365 days in the county jail and will also be ordered to pay back the overpayment directly to the Department of Social Services. The case was investigated by the Department of Social Services and District Attorney Investigator Jennifer Mendoza.