Eight Charged in Alleged $177,000 Benefits Fraud

The defendants face charges in six cases involving CalFresh food assistance and CalWORKs benefits. Prosecutors say the alleged fraud involved misrepresentations about wages, rental income, savings and business earnings. All eight pleaded not guilty. Each faces a felony charge of aid by misrepresentation involving more than $950, along with several perjury charges related to fraudulent applications.

Among those charged are Nadya Daniels, 41, of Inglewood, who prosecutors say collected more than $21,000 in CalFresh benefits from April 2023 to April 2025 while earning roughly $4,500 to nearly $6,000 a month at the state Employment Development Department. Nyeisha Nicole Taylor, 41, of Los Angeles, allegedly received more than $17,600 in CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits after starting work with the county transit agency in January 2022.

Other allegations include Ogi Buyan collecting more than $47,000 while holding investment accounts whose balances each month were between $60,000 and upwards of $1 million, and Rana Soliman receiving more than $23,000 while concealing a home valued above $611,000 and rental income. Prosecutors also allege a Glendale couple received more than $29,000 while hiding employment and rental income, and that a Los Angeles couple collected more than $38,000 while failing to disclose income from their bakery.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman reported that prosecutors brought over 340 cases so far in 2026 over suspected benefits fraud and perjury, with claimed losses totaling $4.8 million.