Federal prosecutors have charged four Massachusetts residents, including two Venezuelan nationals, with operating a sophisticated fraud scheme that allegedly used more than 100 stolen identities to illegally collect over $1 million in food stamps and pandemic unemployment benefits across multiple states.
The defendants—identified as Joel Vicioso Fernandez, 42, Raul Fernandez Vicioso, 37, Roman Vequiz Fernandez, 32, and Coralba Albarracin Siniva, 24—allegedly exploited various social safety net programs during a period when resources were stretched thin due to economic challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities say the stolen identities originated from residents across at least seven states including Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.
The fraudulent operation resulted in approximately $440,000 in improperly obtained Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, along with more than $700,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits claimed from Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington, and Nevada.
According to the Justice Department, Raul Fernandez Vicioso was documented using fraudulently obtained Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards while shopping for food, highlighting how effectively the stolen identities were being exploited. The four defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit SNAP fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering.
Federal officials have described this case as potentially representing only the "tip of the iceberg" regarding systemic vulnerabilities in welfare programs that have been increasingly targeted by organized fraud operations. With the expanded benefits and simplified application processes implemented during pandemic emergency measures, such programs became particularly susceptible to exploitation.
The multi-state nature of the scheme demonstrates how identity theft syndicates have evolved to capitalize on variations between state benefit systems, creating sophisticated networks that evade detection through cross-border operations. When successfully prosecuted, cases like this often lead to calls for enhanced verification protocols and better interagency information sharing to prevent similar abuses.
Authorities emphasize that protecting vulnerable Americans who legitimately need assistance remains paramount, while ensuring taxpayer funds reach intended recipients rather than being siphoned off by fraudulent operations that undermine public trust in essential safety net programs.
Last year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced indictments against four people related to a "sophisticated network" of people who exploited immigration benefits through marriage fraud, officials said.
A federal grand jury has charged four individuals, Ella Zuran, 65, Tatiana Sigal, 74, and Alexandra Tkach, 41, all from New York City, New York — along with Shawnta Hopper, 33, of Sicklerville, New Jersey — with conspiracy to commit visa and marriage fraud.
