‘Octomom’ pleads no contest to welfare fraud, gets community service

“Octomom” Nadya Suleman pleaded no contest Monday to a misdemeanor count of welfare fraud after failing to disclose nearly $30,000 in earnings.

Suleman, who has 14 children including her octuplets, was ordered to serve two years’ probation and perform 200 hours of community service, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.-

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FOR THE RECORD

July 14, 12:24 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that Suleman has 18 children. She has 14.

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She has reportedly repaid more than $26,000 to the California Department of Health Care Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services for the aid she received.

Suleman gained notoriety after becoming one of only two U.S. women to successfully give birth to octuplets. She was widely criticized because she had used in vitro fertilization to become pregnant and was on public assistance at the time.

Before making her plea Monday, Suleman had been facing four felony charges, including perjury and welfare fraud, in the case.

Welfare fraud investigators reportedly received an anonymous tip about Suleman’s earnings, which came from video royalties and personal appearances, prosecutors said.

Charges were filed against Suleman, 39, in January after she received welfare payments during the first half of 2013 that she wouldn’t have received if she had disclosed earning $30,000 during that period, prosecutors said.

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