Eleven of the 15 people arrested by the Department of Justice in a Massachusetts benefits fraud crackdown are believed to be illegal immigrants, federal officials said.
The defendants are accused of taking more than $1.4 million in taxpayer-funded benefits through programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Social Security disability, MassHealth, housing assistance and unemployment benefits, according to Fox News.
“Alarmingly, 11 of the 15 charged defendants are suspected illegal aliens, some of whom assumed stolen identities to steal these taxpayer-funded benefits and avoid detection,” said Colin McDonald, acting assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Officials said some of the alleged fraud involved stolen identities, which prevented legitimate recipients from receiving benefits they were entitled to.
“In some cases, the victims of these crimes, the rightful beneficiaries of these funds, could not access benefits they needed,” McDonald said.
“American citizens were boxed out of these programs because illegal aliens took their names to then take their money,” he added.
One defendant, Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Massachusetts, is accused of taking more than $546,000 in benefits. Another defendant, Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national allegedly living unlawfully in Worcester, Massachusetts, is accused of defrauding MassHealth of $162,180.
Other defendants are accused of committing fraud involving amounts ranging from about $11,000 to $75,000.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the arrests are part of a broader federal effort to crack down on benefits fraud in Massachusetts. Since January, more than 65 defendants have been accused of more than $56 million in fraud, according to a Department of Justice news release.
“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,” she continued. “This is all ending on my watch. Beginning today, we will be announcing benefit fraud charges on a rolling basis.”
Foley also described the cases as evidence of “unchecked, unbridled, rampant fraud,” according to Fox News.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the illegal immigrants charged in the cases would be removed from the United States after conviction.
“Under President Trump, DHS is putting the American people first again,” Mullin said.
Federal officials said the cases show how benefits fraud can affect both taxpayers and people who depend on the programs for legitimate support.
“Stealing someone’s identity to rip off unemployment benefits isn’t just breaking the law — it’s stealing from every American who plays by the rules,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, inspector general of the Department of Labor.
McDonald said the Massachusetts arrests are part of a national fraud enforcement push.
“In less than two months following creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Department of Justice has announced over 650 major fraud enforcement activities across the country, including major takedowns in Minnesota, California and Ohio, and here today in Massachusetts,” McDonald said, according to WCVB-TV.
