Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Worcester man was charged on April 3 with fraudulently obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by using the identity of a deceased U.S. citizen, according to an announcement from federal authorities.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by the United States Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute benefit fraud involving federal and state assistance programs.
Prosecutors allege that John Doe, whose real identity is believed to be that of a 57-year-old Dominican Republic citizen unlawfully present in the United States, used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico who died in 2006. According to charging documents, Doe has lived in Massachusetts under this false identity since at least 2001 and obtained identification cards and a Social Security card under the deceased person’s name.
Court records indicate that Doe has previous criminal convictions under this assumed identity, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as well as cocaine trafficking. He was sentenced to multiple terms in state prison after being convicted in Worcester Superior Court in September 2012. After his release from prison in January 2022, authorities allege he applied for SNAP benefits using the stolen identity. During an April 2022 application process with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Doe allegedly claimed U.S. citizenship and verified his purported Social Security number despite indications that it belonged to a deceased individual. The DTA ultimately approved his application, allowing him to collect approximately $12,623 in SNAP benefits between April 2022 and February 2026.
If convicted of unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits, Doe faces up to twenty years in prison along with supervised release and fines; misrepresentation of a Social Security number carries up to five years’ imprisonment plus additional penalties. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on applicable guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges along with officials from Homeland Security Investigations; Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General; and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea is prosecuting the case.
Authorities emphasized that "the details contained in the charging document are allegations" and reminded that "the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law."
