Not a day goes by where I don't read about someone being arrested for COVID relief fraud or food stamp fraud or identity theft in the millions of dollars.
Being able to commit fraud should be made harder, not easier. Or did Obama and Biden include multilingual instruction sheets in every welcome packet that was handed out with the free stuff?
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"BOSTON – Fifteen individuals — 11 illegal aliens and four U.S. citizens — have been charged and arrested in Massachusetts for defrauding taxpayer-funded benefit programs of more than $1.4 million. The charges include SNAP (food stamp), MassHealth (Medicaid), Social Security disability, unemployment, HUD, and identity theft violations.
"The defendants were charged over the past week. Several remain identified only as John Doe after allegedly using stolen identities.
"The following individuals have been charged over the past week. Several defendants’ names are currently unknown at this time, as they have been living under stolen identities:
- Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Mass., is charged with passport fraud, SNAP fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with $546,463 in total benefit fraud loss ($175,182 in MassHealth fraud; $146,944 in Social Security fraud; $185,194 in HUD fraud; and $39,000 in SNAP fraud);
- Mirian Chalas, 33, a U.S. Citizen living in Salem N.H., is charged with making false statements in connection with $266,000 in MassHealth fraud; $25,000 in Social Security Disability fraud; and $12,000 in SNAP fraud;
- Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $162,180 in MassHealth fraud;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, is charged with false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with MassHealth fraud totaling $75,000 and aggravated identity theft;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally living in Quincy, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in connection with SNAP benefit fraud totaling $11,000;
- Mario Baez Romero, 45, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Somerville, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and passport fraud in connection with $26,942 in SNAP fraud and $48,785 in MassHealth fraud. Baez Romero was allegedly encountered during an interdiction of a recreational vessel near Key Biscayne in Miami, Fla. in May 2026;
- Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, 35, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Allston, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and unlawful production of an identification document in connection with $48,865 in MassHealth fraud;
- Miguel Diaz Matos, 54, a Dominican national living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in connection with $13,431 in SNAP fraud and $50,494 in MassHealth fraud;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, is charged with making false statements related to a health care program in connection with $32,717 in MassHealth fraud;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $38,776 in MassHealth fraud;
- Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, in which co-conspirators staged a false armed robbery of a convenience store to allow “victims” such as Patel, to seek U Visas as victims of violent crimes;
- Santo Tejada Sanchez, 48, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds and SNAP benefit fraud totaling $4,054;
- Jennifer Ferran, 48, a U.S. Citizen living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud and furnishing false information to Social Security in connection with over $29,000 in Social Security fraud;
- Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, a U.S. Citizen living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud and furnishing false information to Social Security in connection with over $29,000 in Social Security fraud; and
- Yahaira Diaz Gomez, 45, a Dominican national living in Mattapan, Mass., is charged with making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $48,694 MassHealth fraud.
"Some defendants face charges for MassHealth, SNAP, and identity theft fraud ranging from $4,000 to $75,000.
“This is just the beginning,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “These defendants allegedly stole from programs meant to help Americans in need. We will no longer tolerate illegal aliens and others exploiting Massachusetts benefits with impunity. Charges will continue on a rolling basis.”
"The operation involved the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, U.S. Department of Labor OIG, USDA OIG, and HHS OIG.
"Penalties for the charges range up to 20 years in prison, with mandatory consecutive sentences for aggravated identity theft.
"In March 2026, U.S. Attorney Foley created the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team to aggressively target misuse of taxpayer funds. The cases are also part of the Department of Justice’s new National Fraud Enforcement Division, supporting President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
"Report suspected benefit fraud: Call 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
"The charges are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty."
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