MONTGOMERY — A total of 50 people from across Alabama have been arrested on welfare fraud charges after a roundup by the Alabama attorney general’s office and county sheriffs.

Attorney General Troy King said Thursday those arrested had been indicted for various welfare fraud schemes. The charges included falsely claiming children were living in a home, defendants claiming they worked fewer hours than actually worked and lying on applications for benefits.

King said indictments have been returned in about 160 cases and attempts are being made to arrest additional suspects. King was surrounded at a news conference by representatives of Alabama sheriff’s departments.

Clarke County sheriff’s Sgt. Maurice Dyess said making the arrests is difficult because the suspects move frequently and don’t want to be found.