Mom arrested for allegedly selling home cooked meals through Facebook group

STOCKTON, Calif. — Mariza Ruelas never thought her hobby and interest in a Facebook food group could lead to jail time.

Ruelas and about a dozen other members of the 209 Food Spot Facebook group were ensnared in a more than yearlong undercover investigation by San Joaquin County officials.

"They took the time to be investigating for over a year now," Reulas told The Washington Post alluding to the city's high crime rate. "But they can't solve all these unsolved murders?"

Ruelas joined the Facebook group about two years ago. She would offer her own items; a tray of rice and beans, chicken stuffed avocados or ceviche about once a month.

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She would make the items with her children, aged 6-20, and deliver them in exchange for clothes, a birthday cake or sometimes enough money to cover the cost of making the home cooked meals.

"We didn't see any harm in that," Ruelas told The Washington Post. "There wasn't anybody selling it daily. A lot of times, they were just getting back what they put into the ingredients."

"The purpose wasn't to sell food," Ruelas said. "We wanted to bring something positive to our community."

A person, who turned out to be an undercover investigator, contacted Ruelas for a plate of her ceviche Dec. 3.

Ruelas and others in the group were arrested and charged with operating a food facility and engaging in business without a permit.

About 12 others who were charged accepted plea deals that included a year of probation, a $235 fine and 40 hours of community service.

Ruelas, who already is on a tight budget, decided to fight her charges but she could face up to a year in jail for the two misdemeanors. Ruelas has started a gofundme account.

The group was warned before the charges were filed, San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Kelly McDaniel told KTXL.

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