“Kudos to the investigators and prosecutors who work to protect our public funds meant to assist those who truly need them.  This cas,e investigated by local, state and federal agencies is an example of what can be done when law enforcement on every level combines resources and expertise.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

FRESNO— On February 13, 2023, Javier Jimenez Alvarez, 52, of Arvin, was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay $3,397,775 in restitution for one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

According to court documents, between March 31, 2010, and March 11, 2015, Jimenez Alvarez and others submitted claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) seeking disability benefits for other individuals who were not entitled to disability benefits. After submitting the false claims, Jimenez Alvarez and others would receive debit cards loaded with disability benefits and withdrew those benefits from the accounts for cash. As part of this fraud, Jimenez Alvarez and others would also respond to EDD requests for supplemental information, causing EDD to provide additional benefits to the debit cards. Additionally, Jimenez Alvarez knowingly and intentionally attempted to conceal these transactions and convert all of the stolen funds into cash.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the California Employment Development Department, the Kern County Sherriff’s Office, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.