Published: March 25, 2011
Updated: 1:54 p.m.

Family accused of cheating public assistance

By VIK JOLLY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

WESTMINSTER – Three members of a family will be arraigned Friday afternoon at the West Justice Center on charges of defrauding multiple county agencies of more than $140,000 in public assistance benefits by lying and failing to report assets on aid applications for eight years, according to a news release.

Lieu Thi Ha, 38, of Westminster, is charged with 37 felony counts of perjury by false application for aid, 11 felony counts of grand theft, and two felony counts of aid by misrepresentation. If convicted, Ha faces a maximum sentence of 48 years and eight months in state prison.

Ha's maternal aunt, Hue Thi Chu, 37, of Garden Grove, is charged with 16 felony counts of perjury by false application and 10 felony counts of grand theft. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years and four months in state prison if convicted. And, Chu's ex-husband, Hai Dien Luu, 49, also of Garden Grove, is charged with 11 felony counts of grand theft and one felony count of perjury by false application. He faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and four months in state prison if convicted.

Between June 2002 and February 2010, the defendants are accused of fraudulently applying for and receiving public assistance benefits by signing under penalty of perjury false income, asset, occupation, and homeowner information, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Recipients of housing assistance must submit a disclosure form annually for review to ensure they are still aid-eligible under program rules, the release said.

An employee of the Orange County Housing Authority reported the case to the district attorney after growing suspicious of inconsistencies on Ha's annual financial assistance disclosure form.

The relatives, all of whom were arrested Thursday, are each being held in lieu of $500,000 bail and must prove that the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond, the release said.

Contact the writer: 714-834-3773 or vjolly@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/news/felony-2 ... years.html