A plea agreement may be in the works for Andrea Munoz, 33, of Bayard, who is facing 724 counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud for allegedly scamming more than half a million dollars from the state Children, Youth and Families Department, the Silver City Sun-News reported.

Munoz, a former employee of CYFD's Child Care Services Program in Grant County, is charged with 246 counts of paying or receiving public money for services not rendered, 232 counts of conspiracy and 246 counts of making or permitting false public vouchers -- crimes that allegedly occurred between 2001 and 2006, the Sun-News said.

Munoz and other Grant County residents allegedly took part in a scheme that defrauded CYFD of $574,000, money that CYFD spokeswoman Romaine Serna said should have been used for low-income families, the Sun-News reported.

Although court officials confirmed that 22 individuals have been charged with receiving public monies for services not rendered and conspiracy, only 16 Grant County residents were listed on Munoz's arrest warrant, the paper said.

According to court documents, Munoz solicited 16 of the other defendants to agree to accept CYFD money for fraudulent baby-sitting services and split the money with her, the Sun-News reported.

Court documents also said Munoz allegedly filed for CYFD funds using her mother's name for babysitting Munoz's children, even though she was not eligible for CYFD assistance, the paper said.

Munoz's attorney William Perkins confirmed that plea negotiations had been attempted, the Sun-News said.

"The parties will likely try to reach some form of agreement," Perkins told the paper. "Attempts have been made, but I cannot comment on when it might be presented."

The 16 defendants listed in Muñoz's arrest warrant are: Julie Quintana, 41, Raquel Dominguez, 35, Mike Quintana, 44, Christine Quintana, 41, Donald Magdaleno, 43, Renee Gomez Baeza, 35, Manuel Baeza, 35, Luis Baeza, 35, Victoria Gomez, 32, Danny Muñoz, 29, Margaret Dominguez, 25, Katrina Vigil, 24, Manuel Peru, 28, Rosalie Muñoz, age unknown, and Mary Jane Baeza, age unknown.

All the defendants remained free on bond as of Thursday, the Sun-News reported.

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