6 Plead Not Guilty To Fraud Charges

TACOMA - Six Pierce County residents have pleaded not guilty to charges of welfare fraud.

The six - Miller Ristick, Peter Ristick, Rosie Ristick, Patsy Steve, Kaiser Miller Stevens and Ricky Zeko - joined 19 others arraigned last week on welfare-fraud charges.

Prosecutors have filed civil-forfeiture actions seeking to seize nine houses, nine cars and an undetermined amount of cash and jewelry discovered in police raids Feb. 13.

Prosecutors say the property should be forfeited because it was bought with money obtained in welfare fraud and insurance-fraud schemes.

The 25 defendants, many of whom are related, are accused of amassing millions of dollars bilking state and federal welfare agencies and private insurance agencies.