(KRON) -- A former San Mateo County Human Services Agency (HSA) employee accused in a scheme that stole tens of thousands of dollars in welfare funds pleaded no contest to multiple charges on Friday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. Maria Del Carmen Jaimes, 48, of Men lo Park, worked at the East Palo Alto HSA satellite office assisting clients and had been with the agency for 10 years. During an audit in 2024, it was discovered that between July 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, Jaimes had activated 22 fraudulent welfare cards, the DA’s office said. A total of $28,588 was stolen over the nine-month period. The audit of the California Statewide Automated Welfare System showed that Jaimes accessed areas unrelated to her job duties, according to prosecutors. Further investigation uncovered that she would search for dormant client welfare accounts and then reactivate the accounts. She then would forge the signatures of the welfare recipients and issue new benefits cards. Proposed rate hike would give PG&E highest profit rate of any utility in the country The stolen funds were used for “personal purposes,” the DA’s office said. On Friday, Jaimes pleaded no contest to felony theft of government funds and two counts of felony identity theft. Forty-one additional charges of identity theft were dismissed as part of the plea, along with felony charges of embezzlement and forgery. The plea deal would save Jaimes from serving any time in state prison. However, she still faces up to one year in county jail. The DA's office said it was initially seeking two years in state prison in the case. Sentencing is set for June 24. ...read more read less