HAWAIIAN GARDENS : Candidate’s Sentencing in Fraud Case Postponed

Sentencing of Hawaiian Gardens City Council candidate Mary Corrales in a felony welfare fraud case was postponed Friday until May 8 in Norwalk Superior Court at the request of her court-appointed attorney, Ernie Nakano. Nakano declined comment on the delay and Corrales was unavailable for comment.

Corrales, 43, a part-time Hawaiian Gardens public safety commissioner, pleaded no contest in Bellflower Municipal Court in February to four felony counts of welfare fraud and perjury in connection with benefits she obtained for her four children between June, 1988, and August, 1991. She is one of 12 candidates in Tuesday’s election. The case has raised questions about her legal right to hold office.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said that Corrales perjured herself by claiming in sworn statements that she had no income, when in fact she had received wages for a part-time job, an auto insurance settlement and monthly stipends for attending commission meetings. Corrales received $10,121 more in aid than she was entitled to from the Department of Public Social Services over the three-year period, authorities said.