Twelve charged in alleged $10 million home day care schemes

On September 15, 2026, the Office of Public Affairs said twelve people were charged after an investigation found that more than $10 million intended for low-income child care was paid to providers based on false attendance records. The release announces charges. It does not announce convictions. ¹ Source 1

The release says federal HHS funds go to California for this care, and that in San Diego County the county, Child Development Associates, and the YMCA pay providers from monthly attendance records signed under penalty of perjury. The complaints allege the defendants certified care they did not provide. The release says each defendant received between $538,000 and $1.2 million. The stated charge is wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, with a statutory maximum of twenty years and a $500,000 fine. ¹ Source 1