People v. Williams

Statement of Facts

Appellant Barbara Williams was charged with 10 counts of welfare fraud in obtaining aid for children by means of false representations (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 11483), and with 13 counts of perjury (Pen. Code, § 118). Appellant pleaded not guilty and waived trial by jury. She was found guilty as charged of all counts, except one which was dismissed because of a clerical error in numbering. After the court denied her motion for new trial and denied her probation, she was sentenced to state prison for the eight-year maximum sentence provided by law. The facts underlying this appeal are as follows:

Over a period of approximately five years, appellant visited different offices of the Department of Social Services in Los Angeles County and opened at least 10 different cases under aid to families with dependent children. To accomplish this, she used at least nine aliases and at least eight different driver’s licenses and identification cards, as well as many false birth certificates. Her claims totaled more than 70 children. As a result, she obtained county warrants which, over the five-year span, total more than $239,000.

Appellant was placed under…