Nine individuals have been charged in a coordinated federal effort targeting benefit fraud schemes that used stolen identities to obtain taxpayer-funded benefits, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley on Mar. 26.
The charges are part of an ongoing enforcement initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting fraudulent activity involving state and federal assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, and Social Security. Since December 2025, nearly $9 million in benefit fraud has been identified through these efforts.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants allegedly used stolen identities—often those of U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico—to secure government-issued identification like Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles credentials and, at times, U.S. passports. These documents were then used to apply for and receive public benefits over extended periods, with one individual reportedly living under a false identity for more than two decades.
The alleged schemes resulted in approximately $943,197 in losses across public assistance programs: about $149,775 from SNAP benefits, roughly $776,715 from MassHealth benefits, and around $16,707 from Social Security benefits. In some cases, defendants are accused of using stolen identities during prior arrests or having previous convictions under assumed names.
Each charge carries significant penalties if convicted: up to 20 years for unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits; mandatory two-year sentences for aggravated identity theft; up to five years for misuse of a Social Security number; up to ten years for theft of government property or making false statements on passport applications; and additional fines reaching $250,000 per offense. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge based on established guidelines.
Foley was joined by Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations New England; Amy Connelly of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; Charmeka Parker from the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Nathan Hebert from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service; and Roberto Coviello from Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in announcing these charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Grady, Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, David G. Tobin, Jennifer Zacks, Allegra Flamm, Eric Hawkins, Julissa Walsh and Aidan Lang are prosecuting these cases.
“The details contained in the charging document are allegations,” said Foley’s office statement. “The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.”