BOSTON - A Dominican man, who currently lives in Lawrence, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Boston to receiving $62,243 in disability benefits under a false identity.
Jose Marin, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money after being indicted in October 2014. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV scheduled sentencing for Aug. 4, 2015.
Marin, who was born in the Dominican Republic, entered the United States in or about 2003 unlawfully and acquired identification documents in the name of another person. From 2006 through July 2014, Marin received $62,243 in Social Security disability benefits under the other person’s identity. Marin would not have been eligible for these benefits under his true identity.
This case was brought as part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to investigate and prosecute fraud pertaining to Social Security disability benefits.
In May 2015, Wendy Mairle, of North Attleboro, pleaded guilty to stealing $32,439 in SSA benefits from a disabled man whose finances she was managing. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2015.
In March 2015, Emily Lardiero, of Revere, was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay $47,671 in restitution to SSA and $40,391 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Lardiero worked and earned income for several years, despite telling SSA that she was still disabled and not earning income in order to continue receiving disability benefits. She also illegally received HUD rental subsidies for several years.
In July 2014, Charles Flynn and Steven Grondell, both of Georgetown, were each sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, and ordered to serve 105 hours of community service and to pay $105,158 in restitution to SSA. Flynn received SSA disability benefits while working under Grondell’s identity, and with his permission, to conceal the work from SSA.
Also in July 2014, Carl Lynch, of Ware, was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay $50,264 in restitution to SSA. Lynch received SSA disability benefits while working under another man’s identity to conceal the work from SSA.
In January 2014, Antonio Pulinario Brea, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $60,455 in restitution to SSA. Pulinario Brea used the identity of an American citizen to obtain SSA disability benefits that he would otherwise not have been entitled to receive.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The Marin case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations’ Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
