Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Weymouth man has admitted guilt in federal court in Boston for submitting fraudulent information to obtain loans through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Dominik Manigo, aged 26, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of wire fraud. He was indicted alongside co-conspirator Nelson Roche Diaz in January 2025.
In May 2020, both Manigo and allegedly Roche submitted fraudulent claims for PUA on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal. They also submitted false letters claiming their employment at a Boston restaurant was impacted by the pandemic, despite neither having worked there. Each received over $43,000 in PUA and related funds.
The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone from the U.S. Department of Labor; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble from the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Thomas Demeo from IRS Criminal Investigation. The Weymouth Police Department provided valuable assistance with Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States using a multi-agency approach.
Additionally, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021, by the Attorney General to combat pandemic-related fraud through enhanced efforts across government agencies.
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud can report it via the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or online form provided by the Department of Justice.
The details contained in charging documents are allegations and remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
