Los Angles Welfare Fraud Defense Lawyers

Are You in Need of a Welfare Fraud Defense Attorney?

Government assistance programs come with detailed eligibility, income, household, and reporting requirements. When authorities believe someone has intentionally concealed information or made false statements to improperly obtain government payments or benefits, it may trigger a serious criminal investigation.

At Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP, our Los Angeles welfare fraud defense lawyers represent people who are facing serious fraud investigations and criminal charges. We understand the difference between intentional fraud and an honest mistake or misunderstanding.

You should contact a welfare fraud criminal defense lawyer right away if:

• You received a notice that you are under investigation for welfare fraud.
• A government investigator or law enforcement officer asks to interview you.
• You are accused of providing false or incomplete information on a benefits application.
• You received benefits that the government claims you were not eligible to receive.
• You received a summons, citation, or court date involving welfare fraud allegations.
• You have been arrested or formally charged with welfare fraud or a related criminal offense.

Accused of Welfare Fraud? Protect Your Future

Early legal representation can make a difference when government investigators are building a case. Call (213) 688-0460 for a free consultation.

Why Choose Us Over Other Welfare Fraud Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles?

When your freedom is on the line, Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP is prepared to investigate the government's allegations and fight for a favorable result. Our experienced Los Angeles welfare fraud attorneys can communicate with investigators on your behalf, evaluate your potential exposure, and begin developing a defense before prosecutors make important charging decisions.

Here’s what sets our firm apart:

• Our defense team includes former prosecutors. Our attorneys understand how state and federal prosecutors investigate cases, evaluate evidence, and prepare criminal charges.
• AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Our firm has earned the independent rating organization's highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability based on rigorous peer review.
• Mark Werksman is a former Assistant United States Attorney and Deputy District Attorney who brings decades of prosecutorial and defense experience to complex government theft crime cases, including matters involving serious criminal allegations and significant consequences.
• Alan Jackson has a career success rate of 96 percent, demonstrating extensive courtroom experience in challenging criminal cases.
• Our firm was founded in 1994. We have decades of experience defending clients against serious criminal allegations in state and federal courts.
• Kelly Quinn is a certified specialist in writs and appeals, bringing additional experience to complicated legal and procedural matters that may arise throughout criminal proceedings.
• Our clients get the strength of an entire defense firm. We work collaboratively so clients benefit from the combined knowledge, resources, and courtroom experience of our attorneys.
• Caleb Mason brings extensive criminal defense and trial experience. He strengthens our team with a focused approach to case preparation, defense strategy, and courtroom advocacy.

What Is Welfare Fraud?

Welfare fraud refers to intentionally providing false information, concealing material facts, or engaging in other deceptive conduct to obtain or retain public benefits improperly. But receiving benefits for which the government later determines someone was ineligible does not automatically mean that person committed criminal fraud.

These allegations often revolve around information affecting eligibility or the number of benefits someone receives. Authorities may claim that a recipient concealed income, assets, employment, household members, residency, or another fact that should have been reported.

Provider fraud is when a healthcare provider, childcare provider, business, or other organization of improperly receives government payments.

How a Lawyer Can Help

Our Los Angeles white-collar crime lawyers can examine benefit applications, eligibility notices, bank records, employment documents, tax filings, medical records, household information, billing records, electronic communications, and other relevant evidence.

We can also identify precisely what prosecutors claim was false or concealed. An attorney can challenge investigative methods, negotiate with prosecutors, dispute the government's loss calculations, and present evidence supporting the client's position. If the case proceeds to court, our attorneys are prepared to challenge the prosecution's evidence and take the case to trial when necessary.

Defending Against Welfare Fraud Charges

The appropriate legal defense depends on the specific allegations. Effective strategies may include:

• The defendant remained eligible: Authorities may incorrectly calculate income, household composition, assets, or eligibility periods. A detailed review may show that the benefits were properly received.
• Lack of fraudulent intent: An inaccurate application or failure to update information does not necessarily establish intentional fraud. Misunderstandings, reporting mistakes, and clerical errors can result in incorrect benefit determinations.
• Another person supplied the information: Applications and billing records can involve multiple people. A defendant may not have known that another household member, employee, provider, or third party supplied inaccurate information.
• Unreliable witnesses: Investigations sometimes begin with accusations from former partners, relatives, employees, neighbors, or others with personal motivations. Their claims should be tested against objective evidence.
• Insufficient evidence: Prosecutors must prove the elements of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Suspicious circumstances alone are not enough.

Types of Welfare Fraud

Welfare fraud investigations can involve many different forms of alleged misconduct.

Hiding Household Income

Authorities may accuse someone of failing to disclose wages, self-employment earnings, financial support, or income earned by another household member. A defense may examine whether the money was reportable, whether the recipient knew about the income, and whether any failure to disclose it was deliberate.

Lying About Family Members

Some programs determine eligibility partly according to household size and composition. Investigators may allege that someone failed to disclose a spouse, partner, child, parent, or another person living in the home.

Actual living arrangements are not always simple. Separation, shared custody, temporary housing, and people moving between residences can create legitimate disputes about household composition.

Fictitious Dependents

Authorities may allege that someone invented a dependent, continued claiming someone who no longer qualified, or falsely represented responsibility for a child or other person to obtain additional benefits. Investigators may use school, birth, custody, tax, and residency records to examine these allegations.

Hiding Assets

Eligibility for certain public benefits can depend partly on an applicant's financial resources. Fraud allegations may involve undisclosed bank accounts, investments, real estate, vehicles, business interests, or other assets. A defense lawyer can determine whether the asset affected eligibility and whether the defendant knowingly concealed it.

Multi-State Filing

Multi-state filing allegations involve claims that a recipient improperly obtained overlapping benefits from programs in different states. These cases require a careful review of factors such as residency, moving dates, application dates, benefit periods, and when agencies received updated information. Administrative delays or legitimate changes in residency should not automatically be characterized as fraud.

Benefit Trafficking

Benefit trafficking can involve allegations that benefits intended were sold or exchanged for cash, goods, or other assets. Your defense attorney may review transaction histories, surveillance, undercover operations, cooperating witnesses, text messages, and electronic records.

Falsifying a Disability

Authorities may accuse someone of exaggerating or fabricating a physical or mental condition to obtain disability-related benefits. Exculpatory evidence may include medical records, employment history, social media, surveillance, and evidence of daily activities.

Don't Face a Welfare Fraud Investigation Alone

Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP can investigate the allegations, challenge the government's evidence, and protect your rights. Call (213) 688-0460 to learn more today.

What Is Provider Fraud?

Government benefit fraud investigations can also target professionals and businesses that receive payments through public programs. Billing systems can be complicated, and mistakes do occur. Establishing who was responsible for a disputed billing entry and whether the error was intentional can be critical to the defense.

Examples of alleged provider fraud include:

• Billing for Services Not Rendered. Providers may be accused of seeking reimbursement for medical care, childcare, transportation, counseling, or other services that were never actually provided. A defense should examine who created the records, who submitted the billing, whether services occurred, and whether discrepancies resulted from fraud or administrative errors.
• Overbilling. Authorities may allege that a provider intentionally inflated hours, services, treatment levels, or reimbursement amounts. A defense attorney may challenge the government’s evidence of intent and argue that billing discrepancies resulted from clerical errors, differing interpretations of billing requirements, or other noncriminal circumstances.

Programs That May Be Involved in Welfare Fraud

Different government programs have different eligibility and reporting requirements. Welfare fraud investigations may involve one or several benefit programs, including:

• Medicaid (Health Assistance)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP / Food Stamps)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Child Care Assistance Programs (CCCAP)
• Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Case Results

Mark Werksman represented the owner of a Los Angeles-area security company who was accused of participating in a $9 million workers’ compensation fraud scheme. His client faced up to 11 years in state prison. Following a three-week jury trial, the client was found not guilty of all serious charges and enhancements. The client received probation and nine months of house arrest.

What Clients Are Saying About Us

He’s phenomenal!-Olivia Dominguez (5-Star Google Review)

Alan Jackson makes me wanna go back in time and become a lawyer. He’s phenomenal!

Highly recommend!!!-Anonymous (5-Star Avvo Review)

Best attorney to help with my case! He will fight for you all the way. I trusted him with my case and his team to assist me. Will go above and beyond to win and defend you. Highly recommend!!!

Speak With an Experienced Los Angles Welfare Fraud Defense Lawyer

At Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP, our legal team includes former state and federal prosecutors, experienced trial attorneys, and lawyers who are prepared to analyze the financial, factual, and legal issues underlying the government's allegations.

Call (213) 688-0460 for a free consultation with a Los Angeles welfare fraud defense lawyer. We are prepared to protect your rights, challenge the evidence against you, and fight for your future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Welfare Fraud

What is welfare fraud in California?

Welfare fraud involves intentionally providing false information, concealing material facts, or using deception to obtain or continue receiving public benefits improperly. Allegations may involve unreported income, hidden assets, false household information, fictitious dependents, benefit trafficking, or other eligibility-related misrepresentations.

What should I do if I am being investigated for welfare fraud?

Speak with a welfare fraud lawyer before answering an investigator’s questions or providing additional statements about the allegations. An attorney can determine what authorities are investigating, review the evidence, communicate with investigators on your behalf, and help protect you from inadvertently damaging your defense.

Can I be charged with welfare fraud for failing to report income?

Authorities may pursue welfare fraud charges when they believe someone knowingly concealed household income that affected eligibility or the amount of benefits that were received. But an accidental reporting error or misunderstanding does not necessarily establish intentional fraud.

What are the penalties for welfare fraud in California?

A conviction can result in jail time, probation, fines, restitution, loss of benefits, and other consequences.

What is the difference between recipient fraud and provider fraud?

Recipient fraud involves allegations that an individual improperly obtained or retained public benefits, while provider fraud concerns businesses or professionals accused of improperly obtaining government funds through a benefits program.

Can I be charged with welfare fraud for making a mistake?

Prosecutors must establish the required fraudulent intent rather than merely showing that inaccurate information was provided. A defense attorney may present evidence showing that an incorrect application, omitted information, or reporting discrepancy resulted from confusion, misunderstanding, or an administrative error rather than an intentional attempt to commit fraud.

What Evidence May Be Used in a California Welfare Fraud Case?

Investigators may examine applications, financial records, employment information, household records, billing documents, correspondence, and statements made to government agencies. Provider fraud investigations may also involve invoices, treatment or service records, reimbursement requests, and other billing documentation.

Meet Our Attorneys

Mark Werksman

Mark Werksman is a founding partner of Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP who has practiced criminal law since 1986. Before entering private criminal defense practice, Mark served as both a Deputy District Attorney and an Assistant United States Attorney. Mark represents individuals who are facing a wide range of serious allegations, including white-collar crimes, fraud, financial offenses, federal crimes, and other complex criminal matters.

Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson is a partner at Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP and an experienced criminal defense attorney who represents clients facing serious and complex criminal allegations. Before entering private practice, Alan served as a prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where he became Assistant Head Deputy of the Major Crimes Division. Alan on handles a broad range of state and federal criminal matters, including violent crimes, white-collar offenses, fraud cases, and other high-stakes prosecutions.

Kelly Quinn

Kelly Quinn is a partner at Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP whose practice includes criminal defense, writs, and appeals. She represents clients facing serious legal matters that can affect their freedom, careers, families, and reputations. Kelly’s work with writ and appellate proceedings gives her experience analyzing complicated questions of law, procedural issues, trial court decisions, and potential errors arising during criminal proceedings. Her experience is valuable in matters requiring detailed legal research and analysis as well as challenges to rulings or procedures.

Caleb Mason

Caleb Mason is a partner at Werksman Jackson Quinn & Mason LLP. He represents clients who are facing serious criminal allegations and complex investigations. Caleb’s practice includes state and federal criminal matters, including white-collar cases and other prosecutions that can expose defendants to substantial personal, professional, and financial consequences. He approaches criminal defense by carefully examining the facts, evidence, and legal theories underlying the government’s allegations. Caleb works to identify inconsistencies, weaknesses, and legal issues that may affect the prosecution’s ability to prove its case.