County Food Stamps Employee Charged with Embezzling

A Contra Costa County employee was arrested Thursday and charged with embezzling public assistance funds, county District Attorney Mark Peterson announced.

The employee is a supervisor in the food stamps, or MediCal/CalFRESH, section of the county's Employment and Human Services Department, according to a news release from the DA's office.

She faces up to four years in prison if convicted on all four felony counts of embezzling public funds, falsifying records, and identity theft, the release said.

Here is the full release from Peterson's office: 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARK A. PETERSON ANNOUNCES THE ARREST OF AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR EMBEZZLING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND FALSIFYING RECORDS

Tina Crosby, 46, a supervisor with the MediCal/CalFRESH (Food Stamps) Unit of the Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) was arrested by the District Attorney’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit on Thursday, December 20, 2012, for embezzling public funds, falsifying records, and identity theft.

After a joint investigation by the District Attorney’s Office and EHSD’s Fraud Unit, it was discovered that Ms. Crosby, while working at a computer at EHSD’s Richmond office, reopened a previously closed file and made false entries resulting in unauthorized benefits of $1,082.00 in cash aid and $1,826.00 in unauthorized Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card benefits. It was determined that Ms. Crosby obtained those funds.

As the investigation progressed, evidence was gathered that showed Ms. Crosby made numerous additional deposits of public funds to the fraudulent EBT card account. Ms. Crosby also made cash withdrawals and grocery purchases with the EBT card.

It is estimated that the total amount of public assistance embezzled in this case is approximately $5,394. Ms. Crosby has been charged with four felonies and faces a maximum of four years in state prison.

Tina Crosby is being prosecuted by the Public Assistance Fraud Unit, which is part of the District Attorney’s Special Operations Division.

Suspected Public Assistance fraud can be reported to the District Attorney Office at (925) 957-8604.