Four Charged in $1M+ Aid Fraud Using Stolen Identities

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have charged four individuals with using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in government benefits through schemes involving food assistance and pandemic unemployment aid. Three of the defendants appeared in federal court in Worcester on Tuesday, while the fourth is scheduled to appear at a later date.

The defendants include Joel Vicioso Fernandez, 42, of Fitchburg; Roman Vequiz Fernandez, 32, a Venezuelan national residing in Leominster; Coralba Albarracin Siniva, 24, a Venezuelan national also residing in Leominster; and Raul Fernandez Vicioso, 37, of Fitchburg. According to charging documents, the group and their associates purchased and used personal information stolen from over 100 individuals across multiple states to submit fraudulent applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP. These applications created 24 fictitious households, all listed as residing in two single-family apartments in Providence, Rhode Island, resulting in about $440,000 in benefits from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Prosecutors allege the defendants submitted counterfeit passports and passport...