- Raids & Arrests
- Nov 5, 2026
12 Daycares in California COLLECTED $10M For Children Who Weren't There As Feds ARREST All 12.
Federal prosecutors in San Diego say twelve home daycares collected more than $10 million in child care subsidies meant for low-income families, while rarely or never having children. According to the charges, each provider turned in monthly attendance sheets, signed under penalty of perjury, for children who were not there. At one daycare, surveillance covered 57 days and children entered on only one: the day a state inspector knocked on the door. At another, no child was seen entering over 22 days of surveillance, even though the provider billed for eleven to thirteen children a day. Each of the twelve faces wire fraud charges, and some face money laundering, with up to 20 years in prison.
So how do you get paid for children who are not there?
News clips are used for commentary, criticism and reporting under fair use. Aerial and stock footage licensed from Envato.
Presumption of innocence
How the subsidy system pays providers, and why one signed attendance sheet is the only proof What the surveillance cameras recorded, day by day How much each defendant is accused of taking in The inspector who found no children, and the children who arrived thirty minutes later The private investigator and YouTuber who raised alarms before federal agents What honest providers and their union say about the case What federal officials say will change All twelve defendants are charged, not convicted, and each is presumed innocent. Most child care providers in San Diego are not part of this case.
Sources
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California · U.S. Department of Justice · IRS Criminal Investigation · HHS Office of Inspector General · AP · ABC 10 News San Diego · CBS 8 San Diego · FOX 5 San Diego · FOX 40.
