Federal agents arrest 15 in Massachusetts benefit fraud case

Federal authorities announced the arrests of 15 individuals in Massachusetts on Thursday, June 18, 2026, charging them with stealing more than $1.4 million in taxpayer-funded benefits. Eleven of those charged are suspected of being in the United States unlawfully, while four are U.S. citizens.

The charges, announced by the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts, allege a widespread scheme to defraud multiple public assistance programs. The defendants are accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, Social Security disability, unemployment insurance, and housing assistance.

Officials said a central element of the fraud involved identity theft, with many of the defendants allegedly using stolen identities of U.S. citizens to apply for and receive benefits. Acting Assistant Attorney General Colin MacDonald stated that this tactic not only stole public funds but also prevented some legitimate beneficiaries from accessing aid because their identities had already been used.

One defendant, Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Massachusetts, is accused...