A San Francisco city employee and her partner were charged with defrauding various public benefits providers of over $500,000 after a two-year long investigation by authorities, according to prosecutors.
San Francisco residents Maggie Pasigan, 49, and Daisy Avalos, 47, were charged were both arraigned Thursday. Each pleaded not guilty to grand theft, welfare fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Based on court records, the San Francisco Human Services Agency began investigating Pasigan in 2023 for alleged fraud involving her receipt of public benefits. According to prosecutors, she did not disclose that Avalos was her registered domestic partner, nor Avalos’ income as a city employee.
“Such income would have disqualified the household for public benefits, which are intended to assist only low-income families,” the District Attorney’s Office said.
According to Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Lawler of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Office of Inspector General, both allegedly diverted over $375,000 in taxpayer funds from multiple federal programs, including HUD-assisted housing programs that focus on low-income families.
Both also reportedly received over $30,000 per month in child care subsidies from a nonprofit contractor funding childcare and early education services for child care they were supposedly providing.
“Over months of surveillance, there was no evidence of child drop-offs, pick-ups, or other signs of children even though the women claimed to be providing care for as many as 17 children during the same period,” the District Attorney’s Office said.
Pasigan and Avalos are set to appear at a preliminary hearing on April 22 for their charges.
The post San Francisco city employee, partner charged with defrauding public benefits providers appeared first on Local News Matters.