NATIONAL
LOS ANGELES — “Octomom” Nadya Suleman did porn films, boxed D-list celebrities, even endorsed birth control for dogs after giving birth in 2009 to eight babies after she received in vitro fertility treatments.
Through it all, she never ran afoul of the law. At least until now. On Monday, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced Suleman has been charged with three counts of welfare fraud.
Authorities say the 38-year-old single mother of 14 children failed to report $30,000 she earned while collecting public assistance money.
Suleman, who was charged Jan. 6, was not immediately taken into custody but was ordered to appear in court on Friday. Prosecutors planned to ask that bail be set at $25,000.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
“While applying for public aid, the mother of 14 children allegedly failed to disclose that she was also getting checks for personal appearances and residuals from videos,” the district attorney's office said in a statement.
All of Suleman's children have been born by in vitro fertility treatments. She's never named a father of any of the babies.
She's also been careful about shielding them from media attention, but occasional video and print articles seem to indicate they are growing up healthy, even though the octuplets were born nine weeks premature. Her older children range in age from 7 to 12.
CHICAGO — The billionaire creator of Beanie Babies steps before a federal judge today to learn if he'll have to spend up to five years behind bars for evading taxes on $25 million in income.H. Ty Warner's sentencing will also give him a chance to apologize at length for hiding his millions in Swiss bank accounts.The 69-year-old apologized and wiped away tears when he pleaded guilty last year. But the judge in Chicago stopped him and said he could explain himself fully at sentencing.Defense attorneys argue for probation, pointing to Warner's unhappy childhood and his charity work.But prosecutors say Warner should spend some time in prison; they don't recommend how much.
