Two city employees and six other individuals were charged with fraudulently obtaining public benefits Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege the eight individuals, charged in six separate felony cases, obtained more than $177,000 in public benefits from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). They are also accused of concealing tens of thousands of dollars in assets and income.
“Public benefits are a lifeline for struggling families, not free cash for fraudsters,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “While public assistance fraud is a small fraction of the total benefits distributed, even one person who takes advantage of the system is one too many.”
Nyeisha Nicole Taylor, 41, was hired by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in January 2022. Prosecutors allege she fraudulently obtained $17,634 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits between November 2021 and August 2022 by misrepresenting her employment status after beginning work at Metro.
A California Employment Development Department (EDD) employee is also accused of fraud. Nadya Daniels, 41, of Inglewood, allegedly obtained $21,076 in CalFresh benefits between April 2023 and April 2025 by misrepresenting her income to qualify for the funds. At the time of the alleged fraud, Daniels was employed by EDD and earned a range of approximately $4,500 to $5,980 per month, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
https://twitter.com/LADAOffice/status/2120989638227529754?a=j1nfznFDihp9mgWPf14&s=20
The six cases involved allegations of fraud and perjury resulting in $177,233.77 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits. These programs are intended to provide assistance and resources to low-income families.
“To anyone thinking about lying on public assistance applications in Los Angeles County, your assets and income will be uncovered, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted,” Hochman said. “I thank the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services for their partnership in investigating these crimes and ensuring that critical public assistance resources reach those who need it.”
Other defendants include Ogi Buyan, 50, of Santa Monica, who is accused of fraudulently obtaining $47,059.77 in CalWORKs cash aid, CalFresh and housing assistance benefits between September 2019 and August 2023. Prosecutors allege she held two investment accounts with combined monthly balances ranging from $60,000 to more than $1 million while reporting that she had no money in the bank and that her checking and savings accounts each held $100 or less.
Rana Soliman, 35, of San Dimas, is accused of fraudulently obtaining $23,255 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits without disclosing that she owned a home in Menifee valued at approximately $611,100. She also received more than $3,000 per month in rental income from a separate property.
Jafar Abdi and his wife, Adrineh Abdi, both of Glendale, are accused of fraudulently obtaining $29,579 in CalFresh benefits. Prosecutors allege they failed to disclose Jafar’s temporary employment and ownership of a body care store, as well as Adrineh’s full-time employment at a local college. The couple also owned a rental home that generated $4,825 in monthly income, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Another couple, Hasmik Hovhannisyan and Hayk Grigoryan, allegedly obtained $38,630 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits while repeatedly reporting no additional income beyond Hayk’s employment at a Los Angeles bakery. However, prosecutors allege the couple owned the bakery and received undisclosed corporate income.
Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for all defendants in late November and early December. Each faces multiple felony counts of public assistance fraud and perjury, which carry potential state prison sentences upon conviction.
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