Welfare Worker Steals Dead People’s IDs

A California government welfare worker exploited her position to steal identities, including those of the dead and elderly, siphoning taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits in a scheme that exposes deep flaws in state-run welfare systems.

Story Snapshot

Leticia Mariscal, 55, former Madera County eligibility worker, pleaded guilty January 15, 2026, to aggravated identity theft for years-long CalFresh fraud.
She improperly used others’ identities—potentially dead or elderly victims—to fraudulently obtain benefits meant for struggling American families.
This insider abuse highlights vulnerabilities in California’s welfare administration, amid $10.5 billion in national SNAP improper payments last year.
Rep. Young Kim demands Gov. Newsom probe fraud, prioritizing citizens over illegal aliens, as Trump administration cracks down on waste.
State claims 83% drop in EBT theft, but cases like this fuel distrust in Democrat-led oversight.

Insider Fraud in Madera County

Leticia Mariscal, a 55-year-old former Madera County welfare benefits eligibility worker, stole identities to fraudulently obtain CalFresh benefits over multiple years. Federal prosecutors charged her with aggravated identity theft. She pleaded guilty on January 15, 2026. This case reveals how county employees, tasked with verifying eligibility, abused access to personal data. Madera County, in California’s Central Valley, administers these programs locally, creating insider risks that drain resources from needy Americans. Such schemes undermine trust in government aid designed for citizens facing hardship.

Broader SNAP Fraud Crisis

Nationwide, SNAP improper payments hit $10.5 billion in fiscal year 2023, about 12% of total benefits, often involving dead people, falsified identities, or unauthorized recipients. California’s CalFresh program faced $20.9 million in stolen EBT reimbursements in January 2024 alone. Broader fraud includes skimming devices on card readers and international rings cloning cards. These losses burden taxpayers, diverting funds from low-income families, seniors, and children who rely on the program legitimately. Under President Trump’s focus on fiscal accountability, such waste demands stricter controls.

Previous cases, like Fresno’s El Ranchito Bakery owner Jorge Luis Rivera, trafficked $3.5 million in SNAP benefits from 2011 to 2018. Sentenced to three years in 2025, he directed employees in the scheme. Romanian crime groups also skimmed benefits in California, linking to global cartels. These patterns show persistent vulnerabilities exploited by criminals, eroding conservative values of responsible stewardship of public dollars.

Political Pushback and State Response

Rep. Young Kim (CA-40) sent a November 6, 2025, letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, slamming SNAP fraud and demanding probes to ensure benefits reach Californians in need, not illegal aliens. She cited shutdown impacts on federal workers and lax state oversight. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) claims new technology reduced EBT theft by 83%, coordinating 190 arrests since February 2023. Yet critics argue Democratic policies enabled abuse, contrasting with Trump’s deportation of over 605,000 illegals and border security wins.

Impacts on Americans and Path Forward

Victims include over 5 million CalFresh users in California, especially vulnerable seniors and families, who lose aid to theft. Economic hits total millions, like Rivera’s $3.5 million scheme, fueling inflation from mismanaged spending. Socially, it erodes faith in welfare for true citizens. Politically, it bolsters calls for limited government and verification prioritizing Americans. With Mariscal’s sentencing pending, federal prosecutions signal progress, but conservatives demand ending overreach that lets insiders rob taxpayers blind.