Federal authorities say 15 people have been charged in Massachusetts in a public-benefits fraud crackdown involving more than $1.4 million in alleged losses.
The defendants are accused of fraud tied to programs including SNAP, MassHealth, Social Security disability, housing assistance, and unemployment benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
DOJ said 11 of the defendants are unlawfully in the United States and four are U.S. citizens. Several defendants’ names are not yet known, federal officials said, because they had been living under stolen identities.
The charges remain allegations. DOJ said the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The Largest Alleged Loss Was More Than $546,000
Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Massachusetts, is accused of $546,463 in total benefit fraud losses, the largest amount listed in DOJ’s announcement.
Federal officials said the alleged losses tied to Rodriguez included $175,182 in MassHealth fraud, $146,944 in Social Security fraud, $185,194 in HUD fraud, and $39,000 in SNAP fraud. He is charged with passport fraud, SNAP fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Mirian Chalas, 33, a U.S. citizen living in Salem, New Hampshire, is accused of making false statements tied to $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, is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program. DOJ said the charge is tied to $162,180 in alleged MassHealth fraud.
Some Defendants Are Listed As John Does
Several defendants are not identified by their real names in DOJ’s announcement.
Federal officials said those defendants had been living under stolen identities. The charging list includes multiple John Doe defendants accused of offenses tied to MassHealth fraud, SNAP fraud, theft of government funds, false Social Security numbers, and aggravated identity theft.
One John Doe defendant suspected of being unlawfully in the United States is accused of false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, and false statements related to a health care program in connection with $75,000 in MassHealth fraud.
Another John Doe defendant, described by DOJ as suspected of being unlawfully in the United States and living in Quincy, is accused in connection with $11,000 in SNAP benefit fraud.
The Charges Cover Health Care, Food, Housing, And Disability Benefits
DOJ said the defendants were charged over the past week as part of an ongoing effort in Massachusetts.
The charges listed in the announcement include SNAP benefit fraud, MassHealth fraud, Social Security disability fraud, housing assistance fraud, unemployment fraud, passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, false statements, theft of government funds, and visa fraud.
Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national unlawfully living in Worcester, is accused in a visa-fraud conspiracy. DOJ said co-conspirators allegedly staged a false armed robbery of a convenience store so people such as Patel could seek U visas as victims of violent crime.
Jennifer Ferran, 48, and Owen Landry, also known as “Oski,” 24, both U.S. citizens living in Haverhill, are each charged in connection with more than $29,000 in alleged Social Security fraud.
Officials Say More Cases Are Coming
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the arrests are part of a sustained effort to investigate benefit fraud in Massachusetts.
“The defendants charged today stole from a number of programs, including SNAP and MassHealth — which are designed to assist U.S. citizens in need of food and health care,” Foley said in DOJ’s announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, multiple inspectors general, and other federal and state partners were involved in the cases. DOJ said members of the public can report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1, or 855-722-6621.
The announcement followed Foley’s March launch of a Benefit and Voter Fraud Team in the District of Massachusetts. DOJ said benefit-fraud charges will be announced on a rolling basis.
Unexpected Benefit Notices Should Not Be Ignored
The consumer risk in a case like this is not limited to government money. DOJ said several defendants had been living under stolen identities, and federal officials connected some charges to aggravated identity theft.
Someone whose information is used for SNAP, Medicaid, unemployment, disability, housing, or other public benefits may first notice a letter from an agency, a denial for benefits they actually need, a tax notice, a medical-program notice, or a debt tied to an account they did not open.
If that happens, the first call should go to the agency named in the letter through its official website or public phone number. The person should ask what account, application, payment, card, or claim exists under their information and request instructions for disputing it in writing.
The Federal Trade Commission’s identity-theft recovery site, IdentityTheft.gov, can also create a recovery plan for people whose Social Security number, medical information, or benefits identity may have been used. In Massachusetts, suspected benefits fraud can also be reported through DOJ’s 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 line.