11 suspected illegal immigrants among 15 arrested in $1.4M benefits fraud crackdown in Massachusetts, DOJ says
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Federal authorities brought a nationwide welfare fraud crackdown to Massachusetts this week, announcing the arrest of 15 people accused of improperly collecting more than $1.4 million in taxpayer-funded benefits. Prosecutors said 11 of those charged are in the country illegally.

According to the Department of Justice, the case involves alleged abuse of multiple public assistance programs, including SNAP food benefits, MassHealth, Social Security disability, housing aid and unemployment insurance.

Speaking at a Thursday news conference in Boston, Acting Assistant Attorney General Colin MacDonald said 11 of the 15 defendants are believed to be undocumented immigrants. He added that some allegedly used stolen identities both to obtain benefits and to avoid being detected by authorities.

Investigators said one of the defendants, Framingham resident Heriberto Rodriguez, is accused of orchestrating more than $546,000 in fraudulent claims tied to MassHealth, Social Security, housing support and SNAP. Authorities allege that several other suspects also secured tens of thousands of dollars in public assistance through false statements, identity theft and related schemes.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Colin MacDonald spoke during the Boston press conference Thursday as U.S. Attorney Leah Foley stood nearby.

MacDonald said the alleged fraud extended beyond financial losses, arguing that identity theft tied to the schemes may have prevented legitimate applicants from accessing benefits meant to support them.

“In some cases, the victims of these crimes, the rightful beneficiaries of these funds, could not access benefits they needed,” MacDonald said. “American citizens were boxed out of these programs because illegal aliens took their names to then take their money.”

Officials said the arrests are “just the beginning of our work” as the nationwide fraud crackdown continues under the Trump administration. (Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images, File)

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the arrests represent only the latest phase of a broader federal effort targeting fraud across Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS AUDITOR TAKES TRANSPARENCY FIGHT TO HIGH COURT AFTER ALLEGED $12M FRAUD UNCOVERED

According to Foley, federal prosecutors have charged more than 65 defendants in fraud-related cases since January, alleging more than $56 million in losses. Combined with previously announced cases, authorities say they have charged roughly $63 million in alleged fraud losses over the last seven months.

Foley described the cases announced Thursday as evidence of “unchecked, unbridled, rampant fraud” across the Commonwealth.
Several Social Security cards placed on a $100 bill.

Some defendants are accused of fraudulently obtaining Social Security disability payments, officials said. (iStock)

“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.”

Federal officials said the investigation was conducted with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and multiple inspector general offices. They vowed additional arrests and charges are forthcoming as investigators continue examining benefit programs for fraud.

“The further we look, the more fraud we find,” MacDonald said. “And this is just the beginning of our work.”

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