Massachusetts Charges 15, Including 11 Illegal Aliens, In $1.4M Fraud

Fifteen people were arrested in Massachusetts in a multi-agency sweep alleging roughly $1.4 million in fraud across SNAP, MassHealth, Social Security, unemployment and other programs. The case involves identity theft, fake documents and schemes that prosecutors say funneled benefits to people not entitled to them.

Federal authorities announced charges against 15 defendants after an investigation that uncovered alleged misuse of taxpayer-funded programs. Those charged include 11 people described as unlawfully present and four U.S. citizens, with losses attributed to SNAP, MassHealth, Social Security, HUD and other benefits.

The prosecutions cover a broad mix of alleged crimes: aggravated identity theft, passport and document fraud, false statements to government agencies, theft of government funds and conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Officials say the scheme ranged from individual identity theft to staged incidents created to qualify people for immigration relief.

The following individuals have been charged over the past week. Several defendants’ names are currently unknown, as they have been living under stolen identities:

1. Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Mass., is charged with passport fraud, SNAP fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with $546,463 in total benefit fraud loss ($175,182 in MassHealth fraud; $146,944 in Social Security fraud; $185,194 in HUD fraud; and $39,000 in SNAP fraud);
2. Mirian Chalas, 33, a U.S. Citizen living in Salem, N.H., is charged with making false statements in connection with $266,000 in MassHealth fraud, $25,000 in Social Security Disability fraud, and $12,000 in SNAP fraud;
3. Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $162,180 in MassHealth fraud;
4. John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, is charged with false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with MassHealth fraud totaling $75,000 and aggravated identity theft;
5. John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, living in Quincy, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in connection with SNAP benefit fraud totaling $11,000;
6. Mario Baez Romero, 45, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Somerville, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and passport fraud in connection with $26,942 in SNAP fraud and $48,785 in MassHealth fraud. Baez Romero was allegedly encountered during an interdiction of a recreational vessel near Key Biscayne in Miami, Fla. in May 2026;
7. Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, 35, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Allston, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and unlawful production of an identification document in connection with $48,865 in MassHealth fraud;
8. Miguel Diaz Matos, 54, a Dominican national living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in connection with $13,431 in SNAP fraud and $50,494 in MassHealth fraud;
9. John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, is charged with making false statements related to a health care program in connection with $32,717 in MassHealth fraud;
10. John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $38,776 in MassHealth fraud;
11. Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, in which co-conspirators staged a false armed robbery of a convenience store to allow “victims” such as Patel to seek U Visas as victims of violent crimes;
12. Santo Tejada Sanchez, 48, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds and SNAP benefit fraud totaling $4,054;
13. Jennifer Ferran, 48, a U.S. Citizen living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud and furnishing false information to Social Security in connection with over $29,000 in Social Security fraud;
14. Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, a U.S. Citizen living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud and furnishing false information to Social Security in connection with over $29,000 in Social Security fraud; and
15. Yahaira Diaz Gomez, 45, a Dominican national living in Mattapan, Mass., is charged with making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $48,694 in MassHealth fraud.

“Today’s announcement is just the beginning of what will be a sustained and ongoing effort to arrest and charge individuals for 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. They allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars each in benefits for which they are not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “There isn’t any place else in the world where you can go and be handed free food, free housing, free healthcare and free monthly checks, while being in the country illegally. However, it appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability. This is all ending on my watch. Beginning today, we will be announcing benefit fraud charges on a rolling basis.”

https://x.com/DOJFraudDiv/status/2067637738635960615

The charges carry serious penalties if convictions follow, including long prison terms, supervised release and large fines tied to the amounts involved. For example, SNAP fraud exceeding $5,000 can carry up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, while passport fraud can carry up to 10 years in prison and similar fines.

Officials framed the arrests as part of a wider effort to protect taxpayers and program integrity. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the National Fraud Enforcement Division put it bluntly: “Fraud by illegal aliens carries real and substantial costs to American taxpayers and places enormous strain on our public benefits systems. The Fraud Division remains laser-focused on rooting out fraud — whether committed by illegal aliens or anyone else — and recovering money wrongfully taken from the American people.”

Labor and investigative officials emphasized identity theft and false documentation as core tactics targeted by the probe. Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, said, “Stealing someone’s identity to rip off unemployment benefits isn’t just breaking the law — it’s stealing from every American who plays by the rules,” and pledged continued cooperation to hold alleged fraudsters accountable.

Homeland Security Investigations described the operation as an initial surge that turned up over $1 million in fraud and promised more arrests as the task force continues. Jeffrey Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in New England, said, “HSI is making real progress identifying government benefits fraudsters, dismantling identity document dealers, and arresting those who steal from taxpayer-funded programs.”

Investigators also highlighted the harm identity theft causes to victims whose information is exploited and to the trustworthiness of health and food assistance programs. Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the USDA Office of Inspector General in the Northeast, noted the priority of protecting program integrity and victims of identity theft.

Health and benefits officials warned about the impact on patients and records when Medicaid and MassHealth enrollment is corrupted. Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of HHS Office of Inspector General, said, “Every fraudulent dollar paid out through these schemes is a dollar taken from those who are truly entitled to these benefits —and we will not allow that theft to go unanswered.”

On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced a district-wide Benefit & Voter Fraud Team to prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts, and on April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice created the National Fraud Enforcement Division to coordinate broader anti-fraud efforts. These steps are aligned with a federal drive to cut fraud, waste and abuse across programs.

The announcement of these charges was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald; Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor; Jeffrey Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in New England; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge, USDA OIG; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, HHS OIG.

The details in the charging documents are allegations; each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal court.