Two Dominican nationals were sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island after prosecutors say they stole Americans’ identities to fraudulently obtain Medicaid, SNAP and unemployment benefits, part of a wider push by the Justice Department and federal watchdogs to protect taxpayer-funded programs.
On July 9, 2026, U.S. District Court in Rhode Island handed down prison terms in a case that centered on long-running identity theft used to extract government benefits. The defendants were convicted after pleading guilty to charges tied to false Social Security numbers, healthcare fraud and other related offenses. The proceedings underline how identity theft can be woven into larger fraud schemes that cost taxpayers money and undermine trust in safety-net programs.
Jesus Matos Perez, 52, received an 18-month federal prison sentence following his guilty pleas to illegal entry, false representation of a Social Security number, healthcare and wire fraud. Court filings show he used the stolen identities of two U.S. citizens for roughly a decade. That pattern of conduct allowed him to siphon benefits tied to Medicaid, SNAP and unemployment over an extended period.
Prosecutors say Matos Perez’s activity yielded about $75,000 in improperly obtained public benefits, a figure that reflects only the cases detailed in court records. The damage goes beyond dollars, since false claims tied to stolen identities add administrative costs and raise program scrutiny for legitimate recipients. Remedies include criminal accountability and improved detection by agencies charged with protecting benefits.
William Jose Alejandro Arias Amador, 45, a Dominican Republic national, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison after pleading guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, healthcare and wire fraud. According to court documents, he resumed using the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen after his release from the Adult Correctional Institution. Officials note he had amassed a significant criminal history while using that identity, which fed additional fraudulent benefit claims.
“The message from these sentences is straightforward,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “If you steal identities and exploit government programs for personal gain, we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and seek meaningful consequences. Protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded benefit programs from fraud remains a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice.”
SNAP helps about 41 million people buy groceries through an electronic benefit transfer card that’s mailed to people with low incomes. Recipients can spend benefits from that card at authorized retailers nationwide, but the system has also been targeted by criminals looking to convert benefits into cash or ineligible goods. Federal enforcement has intensified: the U.S. Department of Agriculture has pursued numerous cases and, according to public reports, arrested nearly 1,000 people accused of committing SNAP fraud since February 2025.
Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Moreria handled the prosecutions in Rhode Island. The investigations that led to these convictions involved multiple federal watchdogs and law enforcement components working together. Agencies listed in court filings include the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people and supports coordinated efforts to stop schemes that drain federal programs. That work dovetails with a broader government agenda to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse and to make sure taxpayer-funded benefits go to the people who truly need them.
https://x.com/SecRollins/status/2069438731862335903
