A former corrections officer from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department admitted to charges of fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs, according to federal authorities.
Christnel Orisca, 25, of Boston, pleaded guilty in federal court to five counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. The charges stem from his applications for benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, traditional Unemployment Insurance, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which occurred before he began working at the sheriff’s department. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. Orisca was arrested and charged in December 2024.
Prosecutors said that between late 2021 and December 2024, while employed full-time—first by a security company and later by a delivery company—Orisca continued to collect about $54,700 in unemployment benefits and small business loan funds intended for those affected by the pandemic.
Authorities detailed that Orisca provided false information about his employment status on PUA applications and repeatedly claimed not to be working or receiving income during weekly certifications. On PPP loan applications, he submitted inaccurate statements about the finances of supposed small businesses to SBA-approved lenders and made additional false claims when seeking loan forgiveness.
The charge of wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Making false statements to a financial institution is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Sentencing will be determined based on federal guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today.” Foley also noted assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Police Department, and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department during the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao is leading prosecution efforts as Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.
In May 2021, the Justice Department formed the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to coordinate efforts against pandemic-related fraud across government agencies (https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud). The task force works with agencies administering relief programs by improving coordination mechanisms and sharing investigative techniques.
Information regarding attempts at COVID-19 related fraud can be reported through an online complaint form with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form).
