County highlights Special Investigations Unit work: 2024 EBT thefts and recoveries among priorities

San Bernardino County Human Services leaders gave the Board of Supervisors a detailed presentation of the Program Integrity Division and its Special Investigations Unit, which investigates suspected welfare fraud and related criminal activity.

Diana Alexander, assistant executive officer for Human Services, introduced the presentation and said the division works behind the scenes to protect public-assistance funds. Sheila Jackson, division chief for program integrity, outlined the division’s structure — appeals, case review, quality review, and the Special Investigations Unit — and said the unit fulfills state-mandated functions and manages complex projects supporting Transitional Assistance, Children and Family Services and Aging and Adult Services.

Greg Mahoney, chief of the Special Investigations Unit, described the unit’s mandate, staffing and operations. He said the unit was created by a California mandate in the 1980s and that investigators are required to be sworn peace officers with POST certification and prior law-enforcement experience. Mahoney said investigators conduct unannounced field visits, surveillance operations, serve search and arrest warrants when needed, and liaise with federal, state and local law enforcement.

Mahoney gave several 2024 statistics: the unit completed more than 6,000 investigator referrals; it sent roughly 200 criminal complaints to the district attorney’s office for filing consideration with a reported 90% successful filing rate; and it identified nearly $4,000,000 in funds subject to recovery during the year. He also told the board the unit led EBT-ATM theft operations that resulted in 40 arrests and said more than 15,000 recipient households in San Bernardino were victims of EBT benefit theft in 2024, with reimbursements to victims totaling over $14,000,000.

Mahoney stressed the dual mission of protecting taxpayer funds and protecting welfare recipients from theft of their benefits. He described the unit’s liaison work with the California Department of Social Services’ fraud bureau, neighboring county investigative units, the district attorney’s office for focused prosecution, and federal partners including Homeland Security and the Secret Service on transnational fraud. He also described internal investigations, including employee embezzlement cases.

Board members thanked staff for the presentation and for the unit’s recoveries. The presentation closed with a fiscal point: Mahoney said the unit’s recoveries translate into funds that offset the cost of running the unit.