The two individuals who committed the crime of defrauding a system that was designed to assist the needy are currently serving prison sentences for their actions.
They pleaded guilty to various felony offences, including grand theft, welfare fraud, identity theft, and white-collar enhancements, according to an announcement made by the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services on Monday. Kenneth Acton, 48, of Menifee, and Nicholas James Hooper, 36, submitted their guilty pleas. A sentence of three years in state prison was handed down to each of them.
Acton was admitted to Wasco State Prison on April 30, according to the documents kept by Hasco State Prison. In the month of June 2026, he will be eligible for release. There is a possibility that Hooper will be eligible for parole in August of 2026. He was transferred to the same prison on May 13th.
The two men are accused of stealing $330,000 from the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system in the state of California, as stated by the Department of Public Safety Services. Financial assistance, including cash assistance, food stamps, daycare, and general assistance, is provided by the EBT program of the state to the citizens of the state who are the most helpless and disadvantaged.
It was in October of 2024 when Acton and Hooper gained access to the EBT system and stole the monies, as stated by the DPSS. After the agency became aware of the unusual activity, they immediately initiated an investigation and then proceeded to lock the account that the thieves had used to transfer the money.
During the month of December 2024, Acton was taken into custody on Briggs Road in Menifee. On S. Euclid Street in Fullerton, Hooper was taken into custody the next month that followed.
“This investigation brought together new technologies with old-school detective work,” stated Raquel Teano, who is the senior supervisor of the Fraud Investigation team. “The team worked tirelessly to identify the two defendants and bring them to justice.”
