Maserati owner collected welfare benefits

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LOS ANGELES, May 28 (UPI) -- A Cerritos, Calif., woman was charged with welfare fraud for receiving more than $60,000 in benefits while hiding assets including a Maserati, officials say.

Tangela Ridgeway, 35, was arrested with eight others this week in a massive welfare fraud sweep for receiving benefits while concealing ownership of a home, business, a Nissan SUV, the upscale 2006 sports car and other vehicles, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office says she is charged with 16 counts of welfare fraud including aid by misrepresentation and perjury by false application for aid, and 14 counts of perjury by declaration.

In court Friday Ridgeway's bail was set at $395,000. If convicted, she faces a maximum term of 19 years in state prison, the Times said.