Federal authorities charged 15 people in Massachusetts, including 11 immigrants allegedly without permanent legal status and four U.S. citizens, for their alleged participation in fraud schemes related to public assistance programs that reportedly resulted in losses of more than $1.4 million.

The announcement was made this Thursday by federal prosecutors and Department of Justice officials during a press conference in Boston, where they detailed a series of investigations linked to the misuse of publicly funded benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, Social Security, housing subsidies and other government support programs.

According to court documents, the cases cover alleged fraud ranging from just over $4,000 to transactions exceeding half a million dollars. Authorities maintain that some of the defendants used stolen identities or false information to access benefits to which they were not entitled.

Among those identified is Heriberto Rodríguez, a resident of Framingham, Massachusetts, who faces charges related to passport fraud, aggravated identity theft and fraud in various assistance programs. According to the indictment, the losses associated with his case exceed $546,000.

Also charged were U.S. citizens Mirian Chalas, Jennifer Ferran and Owen Landry, who allegedly participated in schemes linked to health benefits, disability payments and Social Security benefits.

Authorities highlight impact on assistance programs

During the announcement, federal officials indicated that the affected resources were intended for people in situations of economic and social vulnerability. Acting Deputy Attorney General Colin McDonald said the charges reflect conduct that the investigation shows harmed programs designed to assist families in need. He added that several of the defendants allegedly resorted to identity theft to obtain taxpayer-funded benefits.

Among the accused immigrants are Dominican citizens residing in different communities in Massachusetts, including Worcester, Somerville, Allston, Lynn, Haverhill and Mattapan. Some face charges of false statements, fraud in public health programs and misappropriation of food benefits.

Authorities also identified several suspects under the name “John Doe,” whose identity has not yet been publicly determined, as well as Mitul Patel, a citizen of India accused of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud related to U visa applications.

Investigation is part of a national offensive

The federal prosecutor for Massachusetts, Leah Foley, noted that these prosecutions are part of a broader strategy to combat fraud in public programs. The official recalled that her office recently created a unit specialized in investigations of social benefit fraud.

According to data provided by the Prosecutor's Office, since the end of 2025, dozens of charges have been filed related to alleged fraudulent schemes totaling tens of millions of dollars in losses claimed by the federal government.

Justice Department officials indicated that the investigations were carried out with the support of Homeland Security agents, inspectors general and other federal agencies. They also warned that new arrests and charges could occur as audits and investigations into public assistance programs continue.

The Department of Justice also reported that accused immigrants must first face the corresponding judicial processes and, if found guilty and comply with the applicable legal requirements, they could be subject to subsequent immigration proceedings. Meanwhile, all defendants maintain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.