11 Illegal Aliens Accused of Stealing $1.4M in Benefits
Federal prosecutors charged fifteen people, including eleven illegal aliens, with defrauding taxpayer-funded programs of roughly 1.4 million dollars through food stamps, healthcare, and disability fraud.
According to Breitbart News, the Department of Justice unveiled the charges at a press conference held Thursday in Boston, Massachusetts, detailing how the accused individuals fraudulently obtained benefits across multiple government assistance programs.
The defendants include eleven foreign nationals living unlawfully in the United States and four American citizens. Federal officials laid out the specific charges and alleged fraud amounts tied to each suspect.
Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Massachusetts faces charges of passport fraud, food stamp fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors allege he stole a combined 546,463 dollars, broken down as 175,182 dollars in MassHealth fraud, 146,944 dollars in Social Security fraud, 185,194 dollars in housing fraud through HUD, and 39,000 dollars in food stamp benefits.
Mirian Chalas, a 33-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Salem, New Hampshire, stands accused of making false statements connected to 266,000 dollars in MassHealth fraud, 25,000 dollars in Social Security Disability fraud, and 12,000 dollars in food stamp fraud.
Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national living illegally in Worcester, Massachusetts, is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements related to a healthcare program in connection with 162,180 dollars in MassHealth fraud.
Three unidentified defendants listed as John Doe are also charged. One, suspected of being in the country illegally, faces charges of false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, and making false healthcare-related statements tied to 75,000 dollars in MassHealth fraud. Another John Doe living in Quincy, Massachusetts is charged with illegal acquisition of food stamp benefits, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft connected to 11,000 dollars in food stamp fraud. A third John Doe faces charges related to 32,717 dollars in MassHealth fraud.
Mario Baez Romero, 45, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Somerville, Massachusetts, is charged with aggravated identity theft and passport fraud linked to 26,942 dollars in food stamp fraud and 48,785 dollars in MassHealth fraud. Authorities reportedly encountered Baez Romero during a vessel interdiction near Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida in May 2026.
Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, 35, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Allston, Massachusetts, faces charges of aggravated identity theft and unlawful production of identification documents connected to 48,865 dollars in MassHealth fraud.
Miguel Diaz Matos, 54, a Dominican national living in Lynn, Massachusetts, is charged with illegal acquisition of food stamp benefits, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft tied to 13,431 dollars in food stamp fraud and 50,494 dollars in MassHealth fraud.
Another unidentified suspect living in Lynn faces aggravated identity theft and false healthcare statement charges connected to 38,776 dollars in MassHealth fraud.
Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national unlawfully living in Worcester, Massachusetts, is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Prosecutors allege co-conspirators staged a fake armed robbery at a convenience store to enable individuals like Patel to apply for U Visas reserved for victims of violent crimes.
Santo Tejada Sanchez, 48, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Haverhill, Massachusetts, faces charges of aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds, and food stamp fraud totaling 4,054 dollars.
Jennifer Ferran, 48, a U.S. citizen living in Haverhill, Massachusetts, is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud, and providing false information to Social Security in connection with over 29,000 dollars in Social Security fraud.
Owen Landry, also known as “Oski,” a 24-year-old U.S. citizen living in Haverhill, Massachusetts, faces charges of theft of government property, Social Security fraud, and furnishing false information to Social Security connected to more than 29,000 dollars in Social Security fraud.
Yahaira Diaz Gomez, 45, a Dominican national living in Mattapan, Massachusetts, is charged with making false statements relating to a healthcare program in connection with 48,694 dollars in MassHealth fraud.
United States Attorney Leah Foley signaled that these charges represent only the opening salvo in a wider campaign by her office to prosecute individuals exploiting government assistance programs.
There isn’t any place else in the world where you can go and be handed free food, free housing, free healthcare and free monthly checks, while being in the country illegally, Foley stated. She added that Massachusetts appears to have become a destination where benefits can be stolen without fear or accountability, but emphasized that such abuse would end under her watch. She announced that benefit fraud charges would be filed on a rolling basis going forward.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also participated in the press conference, as Breitbart News reports, underscoring federal commitment to combating fraud within taxpayer-funded welfare programs.
With information from Breitbart News
