The Massachusetts Department of Justice, USA, announced this Friday that 15 people: four US citizens, 11 undocumented migrants, including six Dominicans, were arrested and accused for fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
According to the accusation, the Dominicans stole the identity of the beneficiaries of the disability and unemployment programs, among others, to commit the fraud that amounts to more than 1.4 million dollars.
“Once these 12 criminal illegal immigrants are brought to justice, They will be quickly expelled from our country so they can never defraud American taxpayers again. Under President Trump, DHS is once again putting the American people first,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The Dominican is in the group Saint Scholasticus Cuello, 56 years oldwho resides illegally in Worcester, Massachusetts. This man is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements related to a health care program in connection with a $162,180 MassHealth fraud.
It follows Mario Báez Romero, 45 years oldwho resides illegally in Somerville, Massachusetts. He is charged with aggravated identity theft and passport fraud in connection with fraud involving $26,942 in the SNAP program and $48,785 in MassHealth.
Báez Romero was allegedly found during an interception of a recreational boat near Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida, in May 2026.
Richard Odelis Vallegas Núñez, 35 years oldillegally residing in Allston, Massachusetts, is charged with aggravated identity theft and unlawful production of an identification document in connection with $48,865 MassHealth fraud.
Miguel Díaz Matos, 54 years olda resident of Lynn, Massachusetts, is charged with unlawful acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft in connection with SNAP fraud valued at $13,431 and MassHealth fraud valued at $50,494.
Finally, there is the Dominican Santo Tejada Sánchez, 48 years oldillegal resident of Haverhill, Massachusetts. She is charged with aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds and SNAP benefit fraud totaling $4,054.
The charge of SNAP fraud over $5,000 carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of SNAP fraud over $100 carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of passport fraud carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of illegal production of an identification document carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of theft of government funds carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of Social Security fraud carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
The charge of making false statements related to a health care program carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, tthree years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of providing false information to Social Security carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
The crime of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that is will serve consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised probation and a $250,000 fine.
