PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Department of Human Services is investigating what may be the largest case of welfare client fraud in Oregon history.

Spokesman Gene Evans told The Oregonian the agency wants to find out how it failed to detect what appears to be an obvious case of fraud.

Investigators say Donte Marquis Muhammad and his wife Lakisha Emma Louise Muhammad collected housing, welfare, food stamp and other assistance from multiple addresses in the Portland area while living in a five-bedroom home in a gated community in Las Vegas.

The two were indicted in Clackamas County on racketeering, theft and fraud charges.

The lawyer for Lakisha Muhammad, Lawrence L. Taylor, says she denies all charges and expected to be vindicated at trial.

___

Information from: The Oregonian

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)