Illegal immigrant fraudsters are among 15 suspects accused of bilking Massachusetts public benefit programs out of more than $1 million, and that’s just in the first round of arrests made last week.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the federal charges last week and said that 15 defendants — 11 illegal aliens and four U.S. citizens — allegedly defrauded taxpayer-funded programs out of more than $1.4 million. Several individuals are accused of stealing people’s identities to fraudulently claim benefits.
The fraud schemes involved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, MassHealth benefits, and disability and unemployment benefits, among others.
The arrests are part of an ongoing effort by the National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat fraud across Massachusetts and elsewhere.
“These cases highlight a broader, deeply troubling pattern: the exploitation of America’s safety-net by illegal aliens,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Illegal immigration carries real and substantial costs to American taxpayers and places enormous strain on our public benefits systems.”
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald: "Today’s record health care fraud charges and arrests makes clear that there is no case too big, no scheme too complex, and no hiding place too remote for our fraud-fighting team. In just 14 days, 455 defendants have been charged across… pic.twitter.com/qRmbso8X5h
— National Fraud Enforcement Division (@DOJFraudDiv) June 23, 2026
McDonald added that “the further we look, the more fraud we find.” The U.S. Department of Justice and its fraud-fighting partners are “aggressively pursuing fraud no matter how small, even $4,000, no matter big, and no matter how far.”
The details released over the past week include varying charges and fraud amounts, with some defendants living under stolen identities, DOJ officials said. Several defendants’ names were not released as investigators work to identify them.
The DOJ levied the charges with support from the National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
The illegal immigrants indicted so far as part of this scheme include:
Santo Escolastico Cuello, a 56-year-old Dominican national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program for $162,180 in MassHealth fraud.
Mario Baez Romero, 45, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Somerville, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and passport fraud. He is accused of $26,942 in SNAP fraud and $48,785 in MassHealth fraud. Romero was allegedly encountered during an interdiction of a recreational vessel near Key Biscayne in Miami, Fla., in May 2026.
Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, a 35-year-old Dominican national unlawfully living in Allston, Mass., faces charges of aggravated identity theft and unlawful production of an identification document for $48,865 in MassHealth fraud.
Miguel Diaz Matos, 54, a Dominican national illegally living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft, connected to $13,431 in SNAP fraud and $50,494 in MassHealth fraud.
Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national illegally residing in Worcester, Mass., is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. This involved co-conspirators allegedly staging a false armed robbery of a convenience store to allow “victims” such as Patel to seek U Visas as victims of violent crimes.
Santo Tejada Sanchez, 48, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Haverhill, Mass., charged with aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds and SNAP benefit fraud totaling $4,054.
Yahaira Diaz Gomez, 45, a Dominican national illegally present in Mattapan, Mass., is charged with making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $48,694 MassHealth fraud.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, who represents the District of Massachusetts, said the first round of arrests are “the beginning of what will be a sustained and ongoing effort to arrest and charged individuals for benefit fraud in Massachusetts.”
The U.S. citizens and other illegal immigrant suspects yet to be named face similar charges, including false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, unlawful production of an identification document in connection with health care fraud, illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and making false statements related to a health care program.
Foley said the fraud was ending on her watch and her office will announce benefit fraud charges on a rolling basis. In March, Foley created the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative to investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
“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 said. “However, it appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability.”
In some cases, the suspects stole someone’s identity to rip off unemployment benefits and other health programs.
“Every fraudulent dollar paid out through these schemes is a dollar taken from those who are truly entitled to these benefits —and we will not allow that theft to go unanswered,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Homeland Security Investigations in New England helped investigate the cases. HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force led the investigation with task force partners from the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and other federal agencies.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also shared news of the arrests on social media and other news outlets.
“After these 11 criminal illegal aliens face justice, they will be swiftly removed from our country so they can never defraud American taxpayers again,” Mullin said. “Under President Trump, DHS is putting the American people first again.”
