Corbett said the ex-employees of North Organized Regionally for Total Health, Inc. (NORTH) used their personal employee access codes to create fraudulent Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program checks and passed them at area supermarkets for cash.

The defendants worked as nutrition assistants for NORTH and were responsible for meeting with potential WIC recipients to determine if they were eligible for benefits, officials said.

"More than $375,000 of taxpayer money that was intended for needy mothers and their young children was lost as a result of this scheme," said Corbett, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor.

A grand jury determined that one employee, Mikibia Carter, was "most adept" at creating the fake checks and taught the others how to make their own, officials said. All the defendants live in Philadelphia.

Arrested were:

- Carter, 43, 1839 Conestoga St., charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by deception, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with public records or information, and one count of criminal conspiracy.

- Gail Polk, 53, 4819 N Warnock St., charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by deception, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with public records or information and one count of criminal conspiracy.

- Takarra Scott, 31, 3419 Old York Road, charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by deception, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with public records or information and one count of criminal conspiracy.

- Crystal Gray, 43, 1113 54th St., charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by deception, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with public records or information and one count of criminal conspiracy.

- Melvin Jones, 40, 94 West Sharpnack St., charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by deception, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with public records or information and one count of criminal conspiracy.

- Tasha Riddick, 37, 1717 Georges Lane, charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by deception, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with public records or information and one count of criminal conspiracy.