Crime & Safety
2 From Worcester Charged Among 15 From MA, NH In Federal Benefit Fraud Sweep
Two people from Worcester were among 15 people charged in a federal benefit fraud sweep announced Thursday.
WORCESTER, MA — Two Worcester residents were among 15 people arrested and charged in a federal benefit fraud sweep announced Thursday.
Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national living in Worcester, was charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements related to a health care program in connection with about $162,180 in MassHealth fraud. Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national living in Worcester, was charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud tied to an alleged scheme involving a staged armed robbery at a convenience store, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
The arrests were part of an ongoing federal effort targeting benefit fraud in Massachusetts. The 15 defendants are accused of more than $1.4 million in fraud involving SNAP, MassHealth, disability, unemployment and other benefit programs, prosecutors said.
The other defendants named by prosecutors include Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham; Mirian Chalas, 33, of Salem, New Hampshire; Mario Baez Romero, 45, of Somerville; Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, 35, of Allston; Miguel Diaz Matos, 54, of Lynn; Santo Tejada Sanchez, 48, of Haverhill; Jennifer Ferran, 48, of Haverhill; Owen Landry, also known as “Oski,” 24, of Haverhill; and Yahaira Diaz Gomez, 45, of Mattapan. Four other defendants were identified only as John Doe because authorities said their names were not known at the time of the announcement.
The charges against the other defendants include passport fraud, SNAP fraud, Social Security fraud, MassHealth fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, making false statements and unlawful production of an identification document, according to prosecutors. Several cases involve alleged use of stolen identities, and claimed losses range from several thousand dollars to more than $500,000, prosecutors said.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said the charges are part of a “sustained and ongoing effort” to prosecute benefit fraud in Massachusetts. Foley announced the creation of a Benefit & Voter Fraud Team on March 26 to investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits across the state.
The charges carry a range of possible penalties. Making false statements related to a health care program can carry up to five years in prison, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that runs consecutively to any other sentence imposed, according to prosecutors. Conspiracy to commit visa fraud can carry up to five years in prison.
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