San Diego Supervisor Calls for Review of Social Service Fraud Safeguards

Desmond requests public presentation on efforts to prevent, detect and respond to fraud in county programs

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond has formally requested that county staff deliver a public presentation on the efforts to prevent, detect and respond to fraud in the county's social service programs. Desmond's request was prompted by recent high-profile fraud cases in other states and California, and he wants to ensure that strong protections are in place before problems arise locally.

Why it matters

The public deserves transparent assurances that their tax dollars are being protected, especially as cases of taxpayer-funded programs being exploited have made national headlines. Desmond wants to address the growing public distrust of government by demonstrating the county's fraud prevention and detection measures.

The details

Desmond cited examples of alleged fraud schemes in other states, such as licensed daycare centers receiving millions in reimbursements for services never provided, as well as cases in California where hospice providers allegedly billed government programs for care that was never delivered. He is calling on county leadership to publicly present an overview of the county's fraud prevention and detection measures, audit procedures, reimbursement validation protocols, inter-agency coordination, enforcement procedures, and past findings and corrective actions.

  • On February 15, 2026, Supervisor Desmond sent a memo to the County Chief Administrative Officer requesting the public presentation.

The players

Jim Desmond

San Diego County Supervisor who requested the public presentation on fraud prevention and detection measures in the county's social service programs.

Ebony Shelton

San Diego County Chief Administrative Officer who will receive Desmond's request for the public presentation.

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What they’re saying

“After major fraud scandals in other states and here in California, I've formally requested a public report outlining exactly what safeguards San Diego County has in place to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud in publicly funded programs.”

— Jim Desmond, San Diego County Supervisor (Twitter)

What’s next

County staff will prepare and deliver the requested public presentation on the county's efforts to prevent, detect and respond to fraud in social service programs.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of proactive measures to ensure the integrity of taxpayer-funded social services, especially in the wake of high-profile fraud cases in other parts of the country. San Diego County is taking steps to address public concerns and restore trust in government by demonstrating its fraud prevention and detection capabilities.