Fraud Sweep Nets 15 Arrests

A sweep of suspected welfare cheats in Long Beach and several other areas of Los Angeles County resulted in 15 arrests Tuesday. 

Seven more suspects surrendered to authorities, while 10 others were still being sought by county and state investigators, the county District Attorney's Office reported.

Among those who authorities said were charged with defrauding social services agencies are:

• Tabetha Sherelle Birdsong, 45, of Los Angeles, who faces 16 felony counts for allegedly collecting nearly $38,000 between 2007 and 2011 involving multiple In Home Supportive Service recipients, including a woman who had been dead since 2009.
• Reginald Ray Peoples, 54, of Van Nuys, an IHSS recipient charged with 32 counts for allegedly forging the signature of his provider -- who died more than two years ago -- to fraudulently bill the agency and cash almost $20,000 in payments

Birdsong and Peoples are scheduled to be arraigned today at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. 

District Attorney Steve Cooley gave credit for the sweep to investigators from his office, and from the county Department of Public Social Services and the state's Department of Health Care Services. Along with Long Beach, authorities said the investigation also extended to the cities of Bellflower, Los Angeles, Lancaster and Chino Hills, and to unincorporated area of Littlerock.

City News Service contributed to this report.