Arizona Department of Economic Security officials say a state lawmaker has been indicted on felony fraud and other charges for lying on her application for food stamps.
The charges of fraud, theft and unlawful use of food stamps against Rep. Cecilia Velasquez were announced Wednesday by DES Director Tim Jeffries.
The indictment issued by the state grand jury was unsealed Monday. Velasquez is set to appear in court on July 5.
The 42-year-old Litchfield Park Democrat didn't immediately return calls to her cellphone seeking comment.
The DES inspector general launched an investigation in December 2014 after receiving a tip to a fraud hotline. Officials say Velasquez falsely claimed she had two dependents, gave a false address and allowed two other people to use her food stamp benefit card.
