FROM:
Stephen Gibbons, Assistant District Attorney
Jim Shore, Deputy District Attorney
Public Assistance Fraud Unit
(408) 792-2738 For release on February 27, 2004 DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES TWO CONVICTED IN $192,000 WELFARE AND HOUSING FRAUD SCAM The Santa Clara County District Attorney announced today that 45 year old Tuyen Cao and her husband, 46 year old Van Van Chau, both of San Jose, were sentenced for their convictions arising out of a ten year long welfare and housing fraud scam that netted the pair over $192,000. Beginning in 1989 until 1999 Tuyen Cao was receiving cash aid, food stamps and subsidized housing on the basis that the father of her children was not residing with her and the children. She continually lied during the subject period as to who the children’s father was and conspired with her husband to conceal his true identity. During the entire episode Van Van Chau was continually employed by Kaiser Electronics and Aerospace in San Jose. A Santa Clara County Social Services Agency worker initially referred the case to the District Attorney’s Office when he became suspicious after an adult male answered the phone during a routine call to the defendants’ home. On January 16, 2003 Superior Court Judge Richard Loftus rendered the court’s verdict finding Cao and Chau both guilty of one count each of Welfare Fraud and Grand Theft (each with excessive taking allegations) and found Cao guilty of two counts of Perjury in connection with the Fraud. Judge Loftus sentenced both Cao and Chau to 1 year in the County Jail and ordered both to fully pay restitution. Anyone with information concerning welfare or public assistance Fraud can contact the Public Assistance Fraud Tip line at (408)635-1777. ###