By now, everyone is probably aware of the massive daycare fraud scandal in Minnesota. But such corruption continues to be discovered across the nation, and Massachusetts officials have begun a substantial investigation of their own into fraudulent activity – and they came across an interesting fact: A recent investigation found that 11 out of 15 arrested in benefit fraud schemes were illegal immigrants.
According to the Office of Public Affairs press release: “The defendants are charged with more than $1.4 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit fraud, MassHealth benefit fraud and disability and unemployment benefit fraud, just to name a few.”
Massachusetts Fraud Bust
“These cases highlight a broader, deeply troubling pattern: the exploitation of America’s safety-net by illegal aliens,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Not all of the defendants were named in the sweep. Evidently some of them used identity theft to attempt to remain off the radar while living here illegally.
“Stealing someone’s identity to rip off unemployment benefits isn’t just breaking the law — it’s stealing from every American who plays by the rules,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, US Department of Labor.
Recently, two divisions were created to investigate possible fraudulent activity. On March 25, the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team began. It’s a district-wide initiative led by two senior federal prosecutors who serve as fraud coordinators. Their job is to “aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts,” the press release explained.
The National Fraud Enforcement, the second division, was created on April 7. It investigates and prosecutes “those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.”
“These criminal illegal aliens conspired to defraud Massachusetts taxpayers of more than $1.4 million in public benefits, depriving American citizens of benefits that they needed,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. He promised that after these individuals face justice, “they will be swiftly removed from our country so they can never defraud American taxpayers again. Under President Trump, DHS is putting the American people first again.”
Around the Country
Social Security Fraud and Identity Theft
Carlos Bedolla Sanchez, a 42-year-old illegal from Mexico, used a person’s information to obtain a passport and identification. Using the identity of a Puerto Rican-born US citizen, he provided the name, social security number, birth date and place on passport applications which he also used to get a state driver’s license and other identification.
“Nearly everyone knows somebody who has had their identity stolen, or perhaps has even been a victim themselves,” said US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei in a press release. “The theft of identity for financial gain is bad enough, but stealing a person’s identity to make other fraudulent identification documents raises tremendous public safety and national security concerns.”
In New Mexico, a Mexican national has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly using fraudulent immigration and identification documents as well as another person’s social security number to get bank accounts, vehicle financing, and consumer loans.
In 2019 in Mississippi, 119 illegal aliens were prosecuted for stealing American identities, falsifying immigration documents, fraudulently claiming to be US citizens, and other crimes.
Last year in Pennsylvania, a Honduras citizen was convicted of three illegal re-entries of a removed alien, fraudulent use of a social security number, and aggravated identity theft.
Tax and Refund Fraud
Four undocumented aliens were found guilty in Louisiana for “a large conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing false income tax returns that fraudulently claimed large tax refunds,” as reported by the Attorney’s Office press release. Sixteen defendants have entered guilty pleas to various charges in the case.
In Florida, an illegal immigrant from Honduras was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax fraud and was ordered to pay the IRS $1,214,508. According to the press release, the illegal alien had a construction shell company and used the payroll system for his scheme.
Voting Fraud and False Citizenship Claims
An undocumented woman in Alabama was charged with fraudulent assumption of a United States citizen’s identity “and her use of that identity to vote in multiple elections and obtain multiple United States passports,” US Attorney Prim F. Escalon announced in a press release.
Four illegal aliens in New Jersey were charged with illegally voting in federal elections and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship.
This is only a minuscule list of fraud committed by illegal immigrants. From stolen identities and fraudulent tax refunds to abuse of public assistance programs and illegal voting, these cases show how weak immigration enforcement can create opportunities for criminals to exploit American systems and taxpayers. As more fraud investigations unfold across the country, the question for policymakers is how much taxpayer money must be lost before securing the border and protecting public benefits become a national priority.
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