An alleged undocumented immigrant has been charged in Massachusetts for using a deceased U.S. citizen’s identity to obtain thousands in SNAP benefits, with authorities saying the suspect collected roughly $12,623 from April 2022 through February 2026 while living under a stolen identity that dated back to at least 2001.
The federal indictment says the man, identified in charging papers as John Doe, is believed to be a 57-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic who has been living in Massachusetts under another person’s identity. Authorities allege John Doe used the identity of a Puerto Rico native who died in 2006 to get Massachusetts identification cards and a Social Security card, then used that paperwork to access state benefits.
Court records show the suspect has prior criminal convictions under the stolen identity, including a September 2012 Worcester Superior Court conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and trafficking cocaine. Those convictions led to state prison terms of 8 to 10 years and 11 to 15 years respectively, and the papers say he was released in January 2022 before applying for benefits.
Prosecutors allege the SNAP application was filed under the deceased man’s Social Security number and that John Doe spoke with a Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance employee in April 2022. The case file includes the note “Death match ??? – reviewing with suoervisor [sic],” which the charging documents identify as a flag that the Social Security number matched a deceased person.
Despite that internal flag, Massachusetts DTA allegedly approved the application and benefits flowed to the applicant. Investigators say the defendant then received approximately $12,623 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from April 2022 through February 2026 under the stolen identity.
The defendant was arrested on April 2, 2026, and remains detained following an initial federal court appearance in Worcester. He has been charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits and with false representation of a Social Security number, each count carrying significant potential penalties under federal law.
The unlawful-obtainment charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The misrepresentation charge carries up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, with any sentence decided by a federal district court judge using the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and governing statutes.
Officials named in the announcement include United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The charging documents describe allegations that point to failures in checks meant to stop fraud, and the case underscores concerns about identity theft tied to immigration issues and how those failures can drain taxpayer-funded programs. From a Republican viewpoint, the situation highlights the need for better verification at the state level and stronger border and identity controls to prevent fraudulent access to federal and state benefits.
The court filing notes that these are allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The legal process will determine guilt and any sentence, while the case itself has already prompted federal investigators to pursue complex fraud and identity-theft charges spanning multiple agencies.
