A Kern County man has been arrested following a lengthy investigation into defrauding the California Employment Development Department.
The big picture: The Kern County District Attorney’s Office announced that Ruben Barajas Rodriguez, 54, has been arrested for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from EDD.
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- The investigation started in November 2020 and resulted in Barajas being arrested at his home on July 20.
- Barajas was booked into the Kern County Jail on multiple counts of grand theft.
- His bail is set at $1 million, and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office expects more felony charges may be added.
What they’re saying: Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said she is pleased with the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to uncover EDD fraud that significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- “The District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation is committed to protecting the taxpayer by fighting against all types of fraud,” Zimmer said.
