By Redacción
radaccion@latinocc.com
A Fillmore woman was sentenced to 12 months in jail for orchestrating a scheme to defraud COVID-19 business grant programs, stealing over $101,000 from the County of Ventura, the State of California, and private individuals.
Claudia Portugal Cornejo, 51, pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, including grand theft, fraud, false personation, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced the sentencing on Tuesday, highlighting the impact of Cornejo’s actions. “The defendant stole tens of thousands of dollars from taxpayers and hardworking individuals, lining her own pockets at the expense of those in real need,” Nasarenko said.
Cornejo’s sentence includes an additional 28 months in jail, which was suspended as part of her felony probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims and government agencies affected by her fraudulent activities.
Fraudulent Scheme Uncovered
The fraud scheme began in 2020 when Ventura County launched the Business Assistance Grant (BAG) Program to support local businesses impacted by the pandemic. This program, along with the state-funded California Relief Grant Program, aimed to provide financial relief to businesses that met specific eligibility criteria, including holding a valid Ventura County business license and operating before March 17, 2020.
Cornejo exploited these relief efforts by submitting fraudulent applications, illegally obtaining $70,000 from Ventura County and $25,000 from the State of California. Additionally, she defrauded two individuals of $6,800 by charging them upfront fees to submit grant applications on their behalf—applications she never filed.
Authorities first detected irregularities in October 2021 when the Ventura County Executive Office flagged suspicious documents, including forged business certificates and altered tax forms. An investigation led by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the County CEO’s Office revealed that Cornejo systematically submitted multiple fraudulent applications, often charging victims for paperwork processing and keeping a share of the grants obtained.
Legal Consequences and Restitution
Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise, who prosecuted the case, condemned Cornejo’s actions, emphasizing the severity of defrauding pandemic relief programs.
“It is appalling that Ms. Cornejo took advantage of programs designed to help established businesses stay open during COVID,” Wise said. “However, I was deeply impressed with the earnestness with which the County of Ventura investigated this matter, shut it down, and supported the prosecution.”
As part of her sentencing, Cornejo was ordered to pay $92,659 in restitution to Ventura County, covering both financial losses and investigative costs. She must also repay $25,000 to the State of California and $6,800 to the two individual victims who unknowingly became part of her fraudulent scheme.
The case underscores the commitment of local authorities to protecting public funds and ensuring that relief programs serve those who truly need them. While the County of Ventura confirmed that Cornejo’s actions were an isolated incident, officials continue to monitor grant programs to prevent future fraud.
