EXCLUSIVE

Octomom has just been charged with 3 felony counts of welfare fraud and now faces more than 5 years in prison if convicted on all counts, TMZ has learned.

The L.A. County District Attorney's Office filed the charges, including 1 count of aid by misrepresentation, and 2 counts of perjury by false application for aid. The D.A. claims Octomom -- real name Nadya Suleman -- failed to report nearly $30,000 in earnings between January 1-June 30, 2013.

Octo is accused of failing to disclose income between January and June of 2013 -- specifically, money that she got from personal appearances and residuals from videos. TMZ knows ... the video in question is a masturbation video.