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Worcester man used dead person's identity for benefits: Feds

  • Posted by Worcester News Apr 7 - Filed in News - #Worcester  #crime  #Fraud  #U.S. Attorney  - 3,367 views

    WORCESTER — A Worcester man has been charged in federal court with using the identity of a deceased U.S. citizen to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (S.N.A.P.) benefits, according to federal prosecutors.

    John Doe, whose true identity is alleged to be that of a 57-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic believed to be unlawfully present in the United States, was charged with unlawfully obtaining S.N.A.P. benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. He was arrested April 2nd, and remains detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester.

    According to charging documents, the defendant has allegedly lived in Massachusetts under the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico who died in 2006. Prosecutors allege that under the deceased citizen’s identity, the defendant obtained Massachusetts identification cards and a Social Security card.

    Court documents state that the defendant also has prior criminal convictions in Massachusetts under the deceased citizen’s identity, including assault and drug offenses. In September 2012, he was convicted in Worcester Superior Court of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and trafficking cocaine. He was sentenced to state prison terms of 8 to 10 years and 11 to 15 years, respectively.

    After being released from prison in January 2022, the defendant allegedly used the stolen identity to apply for S.N.A.P. benefits. Prosecutors allege that in April 2022, he spoke with an employee of the Mass. Department of Transitional Assistance, claiming to be the individual listed on the application, asserting he was a U.S. citizen and verifying a Social Security number associated with the deceased person.

    According to court records, the application was ultimately approved despite a notation indicating the Social Security number corresponded to a deceased individual. From April 2022 through February 2026, the defendant allegedly obtained approximately $12,623 in S.N.A.P. benefits under the stolen identity.

    The charge of unlawfully obtaining S.N.A.P. benefits carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of misrepresenting a Social Security number carries a potential sentence of up to 5 years in prison, along with supervised release and a possible fine. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.

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