LIHU’E – Three Kaua’i residents have been ordered by state judges to pay restitution for welfare, housing and childcare fraud totaling more than $175,000. In addition, the two women and a man were put on five years of probation. District
LIHU’E – Three Kaua’i residents have been ordered by state judges to pay restitution for welfare, housing and childcare fraud totaling more than $175,000.
In addition, the two women and a man were put on five years of probation.
District Court Judge Calvin Murashige sentenced Teresa Texeira, 41, of Kapa’a to six months in jail, but credited her for time served and allowed the balance to be suspended during her probation period.
Texeira was ordered to serve 400 hours of community service and to pay restitution of about $150,000.
Authorities said Texeira illegally received financial and medical assistance, food stamps and federal housing assistance between February 1988 and March 1998.
The violations stemmed from Texeira’s failure to report the presence of her boyfriend while she was receiving assistance, officials said.
Texeira pleaded no contest to two theft counts.
The state Department of Human Services began an investigation after receiving a tip.
Texeira was ordered to continue to seek mental health care, and to participate in rehabilitation programs. She also was disqualified from receiving financial assistance for six months, and food stamps for one year.
Murashige also sentenced Betty Dela Cruz, 26, of Lihu’e to 15 days in jail and placed her on probation for illegally receiving $24, 507 in overpayments of assistance and food stamps from June 1997 to May 1999.
The judge also ruled Dela Cruz, who pleaded no contest to a first-degree theft charge, must serve 400 hours of community service and pay more about $17,500 in restitution. In addition, Dela Cruz was disqualified from receiving food stamps for one year.
Dela Cruz didn’t report her boyfriend stayed with her while she received the payments, according to authorities.
Her boyfriend, Malcom Oyama, 37, of Lihu’e, was sentenced by Circuit Judge George Masuoka to six days in jail for receiving about $7,000 in childcare overpayments.
Oyama was put on probation, was ordered to perform 800 hours of community service, and was required to pay restitution of about $7,000 after pleading no contest to theft in the second degree.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@pulitzer.net
