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Moreno Valley Councilman Resigns After Being Arrested On Suspicion Of Felony Fraud

MORENO VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — A Moreno Valley City Councilman Tuesday was facing several felony fraud charges after being arrested for improperly collecting income from a state program that provided in-home care for his mother.

Marcelo Co, 54, was arrested Monday afternoon at a business in the 16500 block of Saddlebrook Lane, according to Riverside County Jail records.

Co is accused of collecting nearly $15,000 in state funds from the In-Home Supportive Services program where he was listed as a care provider for his mother, the District Attorney's Office said.

"It is alleged that it would have been impossible for Co to provide care to his mother during certain periods of time because she was not in the United States while, during those periods of time, he was in the U.S.," spokesman John Hall told City News Service.

Co, who resigned from office Tuesday, faces felony charges of fraud, fraud to obtain aid, grand theft and presenting a false claim.

He posted $15,000 bail Monday evening and was released from custody. The 54-year-old was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday at 8 a.m. at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Co had previously been the focus of an investigation by a regional corruption task force, which searched his home and those of four other council members on April 30.

The investigation led to the recall effort of the five council members.

RELATED: Agents Raid Homes Of Moreno Valley Mayor, Council Members In Political Corruption Probe

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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