A 56-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty today to charges that she used the identity of a deceased former Oxnard resident to collect more than $74,000 in welfare payments and Medi-Cal benefits.
Claudia Leon-Lopez was arrested Thursday on suspicion of identity theft, grand theft and welfare fraud.
Prosecutors allege Leon-Lopez fraudulently used the identity of Laura Ana Ruiz from 2005 to 2010 to collect more than $63,000 in welfare and $11,000 in Medi-Cal, according to the statement. Ruiz, an Oxnard resident in the 1980s, died in 1993.
Leon-Lopez remained in jail today. She was not eligible for bail due to an immigration hold, jail records show.
If convicted of all charges, Leon-Lopez faces up to five years in prison, prosecutors said.
If you have been arrested for identity theft,
contact the law office of Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney
Robert Helfend. He has over 20 years of experience and can make in the outcome of your case. He will accompany you to any pretrial hearings, negotiations, or police interviews to ensure your rights and interests are protected while building an aggressive defense on your behalf.