District Court, Kandiyohi County, Dec. 30
A Willmar woman is facing eight criminal charges for allegedly lying on a welfare application and using a false identification to get a job, obtain work and tax documents and apply for a state ID card.
Reina I. Guevara, 37, made her first appearance Monday in Eighth District Court. Judge Kathryn Smith agreed to release her on $20,000 conditional bail.
Guevara is charged with wrongfully obtaining public assistance, giving a false declaration, identity theft, one count of forgery, two counts of aggravated forgery and two counts of perjury.
According to court records, she applied in December 2006 for welfare but did not reveal she was living with the father of the child for whom she was applying for benefits, nor reveal on the application that he was helping to financially support her and that she was also employed. As a result, she collected $4,910 in welfare benefits to which she wasn't entitled.
She also allegedly applied for a job in Willmar in May 2006, using a false name. She signed two documents -- a W-4 federal tax form and an I-9 employment eligibility form -- using the fake name of Maileen Rivera. Under the name of Maileen Rivera Forti, she applied for a Minnesota identity card as well.
Her next appearance in court is scheduled for Jan. 12.