Woman indicted in alleged scheme to get child support (9:47 a.m.)
By The Associated Press
Article Launched: 05/02/2007 09:49:59 AM MDT
ALBUQUERQUE -- A grand jury has indicted a woman accused of pretending she'd had a child and bilking her former husband out of more than $26,000.
The Bernalillo County grand jury last week indicted Viola Trevino, 54, on 24 counts, including kidnapping, perjury, conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit forgery.
Trevino and Steve Barreras divorced in August 1999. The divorce papers make no mention of a pregnancy or minor children.
However, in December 1999, Trevino sued for child support, saying she gave birth to Barreras' child that September.
The elaborate scheme to get child support included false DNA evidence, a forged Social Security number and forged birth and baptismal certificates, authorities have said.
They say it came apart in December 2004, when a judge ordered her to bring the child to court.
According to court records, Trevino picked up a 2-year-old and her grandmother from a city street, promising them lunch, $50 and a visit to Santa Claus. Trevino then took the child to court, alleging she was her daughter.
However, state District Judge Linda Vanzi ruled Trevino had fabricated the baby she claimed Barreras fathered.
Trevino had a tubal ligation in 1978 and Barreras had
The system finally did the right thing on this case.
How many years did it take, though?
It moved only reluctantly but at least it finally moved.
This was a massive fraud and I think a severe sentence is due.
Her real crime though from the State's perspective is not that she defrauded a man.
Her real crime is that she got caught and she severely embarrassed the system.
