Dominican national living in Massachusetts with a criminal record, accused of using identity of deceased U.S. citizen to fraudulently obtain SNAP benefits

BOSTON — A Dominican national living in Worcester has been charged federally with using the stolen identity of a deceased U.S. citizen to fraudulently collect more than $12,600 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits over nearly four years.

The defendant, referred to in court documents as “John Doe,” is accused of living under the identity of a Puerto Rican-born U.S. citizen who died in 2006. According to prosecutors, the man, whose true identity is alleged to be that of a 57-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic who is unlawfully present in the United States, has been using the deceased man’s name and Social Security number since at least 2001.

The charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of a broader crackdown on benefit fraud involving federal and state assistance programs.

Court documents state that after being released from state prison in January 2022 (where he had served time for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and cocaine trafficking convictions from 2012), the defendant used the stolen identity to apply for SNAP benefits. In April 2022, he allegedly spoke with a Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) employee, claiming to be the person listed on the application and verifying the deceased man’s Social Security number. A DTA employee reportedly flagged the application with the note “Death match ???” but the application was still approved.

From April 2022 through February 2026, the defendant allegedly received approximately $12,623 in SNAP benefits using the fraudulent identity.

He remains detained following an initial court appearance in Worcester.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits and up to 5 years for false representation of a Social Security number. He also has prior criminal convictions in Massachusetts under the stolen identity, including assault with a dangerous weapon and drug trafficking.

United States Attorney Leah Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.