Santa Monica Resident Charged in $47,000 Public Benefits Fraud Case
LOS ANGELES - A Santa Monica resident collected more than $47,000 in public assistance while holding investment accounts with combined monthly balances ranging from $60,000 to more than $1 million, Los Angeles County prosecutors alleged Thursday. Ogi Buyan, 50, is among eight people charged in public benefits fraud cases announced Nov. 12 by District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Prosecutors accuse the defendants of concealing earnings or assets to obtain a combined total exceeding $177,000.All eight have pleaded not guilty, according to court records cited by City News Service.Buyan allegedly received just over $47,000 in CalWORKs cash aid, CalFresh and housing assistance between September 2019 and August 2023 while holding two investment accounts, according to the District Attorney's Office.The other cases involve allegations of unreported government paychecks, rental income and bakery ownership. Each defendant faces one felony count of aid by misrepresentation over $950 and multiple counts of perjury by false application for fraud, prosecutors said.Two defendants allegedly collected assistance while employed by public agencies.Nadya Daniels, 41, of Inglewood, received just over $21,000 in CalFresh benefits between April 2023 and April 2025, according to prosecutors. During that period, she repeatedly reported either having no income or working part time at a retail
