KAILUA-KONA — Four Big Island women were indicted by a Kona grand jury this month in separate, unrelated welfare fraud cases.
A two-count indictment handed down Nov. 6 charges Maricar A. Granadosin with first-degree theft and false swearing in an official matter.
Granadosin is alleged to have intentionally obtained and exerted control by deception more than $20,000 in public assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), benefits, between Nov. 1, 2016, and April 30, according to the court filing. On March 25, the indictment charges, Granadosin, with an intent to mislead a public servant, made a written statement under oath that she believed not to be true.
A bench warrant was ordered Tuesday with supervised release permitted after Granadosin is arrested by police. Her case will be heard by Circuit Court Judge Melvin H. Fujino.
Also Nov. 6, Nani P. Widmer was indicted on charges of first-degree theft and false swearing in an official matter. Widmer is alleged to have unlawfully collected public assistance, or SNAP, benefits between Dec. 1, 2013, and Feb. 28, 2018, totaling more than $20,000. On Dec. 7, 2017, she allegedly, with an intent to mislead a public servant, made a written statement under oath that she believed not to be true.
A bench warrant with supervised release post arrest by police was ordered for Widmer. Her case will be heard by Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim.
Indicted on a single count of first-degree theft on Nov. 6 was Sandra L. Cordero. According to the indictment, Cordero unlawfully obtained more than $20,000 in public assistance, or SNAP, benefits from May 1, 2016, to April 30, 2018.
A bench warrant was ordered Tuesday with supervised release permitted after Cordero is arrested by police. Her case will be heard by Fujino.
The fourth woman indicted for welfare fraud was Natasha R. Rein. On Nov. 6, grand jurors charged her with second-degree theft for unlawfully obtaining more than $750 in public assistance, or SNAP, benefits from Oct. 15, 2015, to Oct. 31, 2018.
A bench warrant was ordered for her arrest with supervised release permitted thereafter. Her case will be heard by Kim.
First-degree theft is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years incarceration while second-degree theft, a Class C felony, is punishable by up to five years. False swearing is a misdemeanor carrying up to a year behind bars.