A Worcester man faces federal charges for allegedly using a dead person’s identity to obtain SNAP benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
The office did not identify the man by his real name, writing in a statement that he is likely a 57-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic in the United States illegally.
The man, referred to as John Doe by the office, has been allegedly living in Massachusetts since 2001 under the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico who died in 2006.
Using the dead person’s identity, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Doe was able to obtain a state ID and Social Security cards.
Doe also has a criminal history using the fake identity, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and cocaine trafficking convictions, according to the statement.
When Doe was released from prison in January 2022, he allegedly used the stolen identity to apply for SNAP benefits.
In April of that year, after Doe spoke with a state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) employee to confirm his citizenship and identity, the office said a DTA employee noted in Doe’s file, “Death match ??? – reviewing with suoervisor [sic].”
“However, the application was ultimately approved by Massachusetts DTA, and John Doe allegedly proceeded to collect SNAP benefits,” the statement said.
From April 2022 to February 2026, Doe obtained more than $12,000 in benefits.
He faces charges of unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits and misrepresenting a Social Security number, which come with sentences of up to 20 years and up to five years in prison, respectively, as well as $250,000 fines.
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The news from the U.S. The Attorney’s Office is the latest in a string of SNAP fraud cases that the office has announced this year, some totaling in the millions.
To combat fraud issues, the Governor’s Office announced Monday that the state will implement EBT cards with chips to try to decrease fraud. Following a whistleblower report in the Herald, the DTA also hired 80 new employees to investigate benefits fraud.
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