A Fitchburg, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Mar. 24 in federal court in Worcester to his involvement in a scheme that used the stolen identities of more than 100 people to obtain $440,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The defendant and alleged co-conspirators also obtained over $700,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits from several states.
Raul Fernandez Vicioso, 37, admitted guilt to charges including Conspiracy to Commit SNAP Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, SNAP benefit Fraud, Aiding and Abetting, and Money Laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for July 9.
Fernandez Vicioso was charged on Feb. 3 along with three alleged co-conspirators: Joel Vicioso Fernandez of Fitchburg; Roman Vequiz Fernandez, a Venezuelan national living in Leominster; and Coralba Albarracin Siniva, also a Venezuelan national living in Leominster. Prosecutors said the group purchased and used stolen personal information from more than 100 individuals across multiple states to submit fraudulent SNAP applications for 24 “households,” all listed at two Providence apartments.
Some of the stolen identities were from Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico but were used for fraudulent benefit claims in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Investigators said Fernandez Vicioso included his own information among the victim identities on applications supported by counterfeit passport images taken at El Primo Restaurant—a business he operated.
Authorities allege that fraudulent SNAP cards were used to buy bulk food items for El Primo Restaurant at no cost before menu items were sold for profit. Proceeds were then wired abroad. In addition to food stamp fraud between April 2020 and December 2021 the group allegedly submitted false PUA applications using at least 29 different identities across six states—listing El Primo Restaurant as their address—and deposited over $276,000 into related bank accounts or prepaid cards.
During searches of residences linked to Fernandez Vicioso and El Primo Restaurant investigators recovered fraudulent EBT cards from Massachusetts and Rhode Island along with documents bearing Providence addresses involved in the scheme plus lists of victim names.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea alongside officials from several agencies including USDA Office of Inspector General; Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations New England; Social Security Administration OIG; Department of Homeland Security OIG; U.S Postal Inspection Service; State Department Diplomatic Security Service; Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit – Fraud Detection & Prevention Unit; state police departments as well as local police departments from Fitchburg and Leominster.
The charge details are allegations only for remaining defendants who are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.