8 Accused Of $177K Welfare Fraud In LA County, Including Government Workers

LOS ANGELES, CA — Eight people, including an LA Metro employee and a state worker, have been charged with fraudulently collecting more than $177,000 in public benefits while concealing substantial income and assets, including a million-dollar investment account, rental properties and a profitable bakery.

The eight defendants face felony charges in six separate cases involving a combined $177,233 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

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Prosecutors claim the defendants repeatedly lied about their finances on public assistance applications, in some cases claiming to have little or no income despite owning valuable property, maintaining substantial investment accounts or earning thousands of dollars a month.

"Public benefits are a lifeline for struggling families, not free cash for fraudsters," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.

The six newly announced cases involve defendants from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Glendale, San Dimas and Inglewood.

Among those charged is Ogi Buyan, 50, of Santa Monica, who allegedly collected $47,059 in CalWORKs, CalFresh and housing assistance between September 2019 and August 2023 while maintaining two investment accounts with combined balances ranging from $60,000 to more than $1 million.

Prosecutors claim Buyan repeatedly certified under penalty of perjury that she had no money in the bank or had no more than $100 in her checking and savings accounts.

Buyan faces one felony count of obtaining aid by misrepresentation and seven felony counts of perjury.

In another case, Rana Soliman, 35, of San Dimas, allegedly collected $23,255 in benefits while owning a home in Menifee valued at approximately $611,100.

Prosecutors say Soliman collected $3,200 to $3,600 a month in rental income from the property, including an initial lease payment of $19,850, but repeatedly reported having no income or assets. She faces five felony counts.

A Glendale couple, Jafar Abdi, 67, and Adrineh Abdi, 58, allegedly collected $29,579 in CalFresh benefits while concealing employment and rental income.

According to prosecutors, Adrineh Abdi earned more than $165,000 working full time at a local college during the alleged fraud period. The couple also owned a Glendale home valued at approximately $979,000 that they rented for $4,825 a month.

Jafar Abdi faces five felony counts, while his wife faces four.

Another married couple, Hasmik Hovhannisyan, 40, and Hayk Grigoryan, 45, of Los Angeles, allegedly collected $38,630 in benefits while concealing income from a bakery they owned.

Although the couple disclosed wages Grigoryan earned working at the bakery, they allegedly failed to report $115,055 in corporate income received between 2022 and 2024, prosecutors said.

Both face five felony counts.

The cases also involve two government employees accused of failing to disclose their employment while receiving public assistance.

Nadya Daniels, 41, of Inglewood, allegedly collected $21,076 in CalFresh benefits between April 2023 and April 2025 while working for the California Employment Development Department.

Prosecutors say Daniels repeatedly claimed to have no income or only part-time retail employment despite earning approximately $4,500 to $5,980 a month from her state job.

Daniels faces six felony counts.

Nyeisha Nicole Taylor, 41, of Los Angeles, allegedly collected $17,634 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits while employed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Taylor was hired by Metro in January 2022 and earned approximately $1,850 a month through August of that year, according to prosecutors. She allegedly continued certifying that she was unemployed.

Taylor faces three felony counts.

All eight defendants are charged with obtaining public aid by misrepresentation and multiple counts of perjury involving applications for assistance.

Daniels and Taylor are scheduled for preliminary hearing settings Nov. 20, while Hovhannisyan is scheduled to appear Dec. 4. The remaining defendants have hearings scheduled Dec. 11. All hearings are set at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Hochman said public assistance fraud represents a small fraction of the benefits distributed to eligible residents, but his office intends to prosecute those who abuse the programs.

"To anyone thinking about lying on public assistance applications in Los Angeles County, your assets and income will be uncovered, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted," Hochman said.