Angenette Thomas, L.A. Probation Officer, Bilked Federal Gov Out of Unecessary Student Loans, Kept Cash, U.S. Attorney Says

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As if the L.A. County Probation Department doesn't have enough problems comes word that an officer allegedly applied for federal student aid she didn't appear to need and pocketed more than $135,000.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in L.A. 43-year-old Rialto resident Angenette Thomas used a false name to get some of the cash. That's a no-no on a federal level, and thus:

A criminal complaint alleging wire fraud was filed against her. She was arrested this morning at a probation satellite office in San Dimas.

According to a U.S. Attorney's statement, Thomas allegedly ...

... obtained federal student loans and grants to attend several local colleges, including Platt College; University of La Verne; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, San Bernardino; and National University in La Jolla. After Thomas defaulted on many of these loans, she applied for more financial aid in March 2009 and falsely claimed she was not in default on a federal student loan.

According to the complaint, when Thomas was rejected for financial aid after it was discovered she was in default on her student loans, she used a second name and social security number to again apply for federal student aid. In this application, Thomas claimed she had never attended college and earned no income in 2008. Based on these representations, she received more federal student aid.

Oopsy?

She could face 20 years behind bars if convicted.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]