Melinda Sue Sauceda, the city secretary of China Grove, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly using municipal resources to create fake payroll records and secure around $22,000 in SNAP and Medicaid benefits for her children. She faces state charges including tampering with government records, forgery, and theft, after reportedly filing multiple applications with fabricated pay stubs and a handwritten letter claiming unemployment.
Investigators noted that the bogus pay stubs contained inconsistent fonts and wage figures that did not match city payroll records, including $26.50 per hour on a 2024 stub and $18 per hour on a 2025 stub, as reported by KSAT. Sauceda was booked by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office following the allegations outlined in the arrest affidavit.
City Records and Job Title
The City of China Grove’s official website lists Melinda Sauceda as the city secretary and provides contact information for City Hall, according to City of China Grove. The Texas Municipal League directory likewise identifies Sauceda as the city’s secretary and includes municipal contact details. Those public listings place her firmly in a municipal role even as court paperwork now outlines alleged criminal conduct.
Investigators' Account
According to the affidavit cited by KSAT, Sauceda told investigators she used a city-owned desktop computer and a city "QuickBrooks" account to generate the pay stubs and submit the online applications. She is also accused of using fax machines both at work and at a UPS store in La Vernia to send paperwork. Authorities seized her laptop, desktop, work cellphone and a notebook that allegedly held passwords and login information. When asked if she knew what she was doing was illegal, investigators say she responded, "Yes, it's government money."
What the Charges Mean
Under Texas law, tampering with governmental records can be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor or, if done with intent to defraud or harm another, as a state jail felony. Penalties for forgery and theft depend on the value at issue, and theft involving several thousand dollars can land in a range charged as a state jail felony. See Texas Penal Code §32.21 and §31.03.
Next Steps
Sauceda remains in custody on the listed allegations, which will be tested in court. The claims in the affidavit are accusations, not findings of guilt, and she is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove otherwise. Local prosecutors are expected to review investigators’ reports and the seized materials as they decide whether to pursue formal charges in Bexar County court.
