Benefit Scam Busted

⏱ 2 min read

Nine individuals have been charged in a coordinated federal crackdown on benefit fraud schemes in Massachusetts, exploiting stolen identities to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded programs. The scam, which occurred between December 2025 and the present, involved the theft of nearly $9 million in benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, and Social Security benefits. The defendants, including Juan Felipe Chalas, Efrain Rivera, and Danis Piron Lara, were charged with various crimes, including making false statements, aggravated identity theft, and unlawfully obtaining benefits.

The charges were announced as part of the United States Attorney’s ongoing enforcement priority to investigate and prosecute benefit fraud involving federal and state assistance programs. The defendants, who include Dominican nationals and a Lawful Permanent Resident, were charged over the past nine weeks. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be forthcoming.

The benefit fraud schemes involved the use of stolen identities to obtain benefits, including SNAP and Social Security benefits. The defendants allegedly used false statements and stolen identities to obtain these benefits, resulting in the theft of nearly $9 million in taxpayer-funded programs. The charges against the defendants include making false statements, aggravated identity theft, and unlawfully obtaining benefits.

The investigation was conducted by federal and state agencies, including the FBI, and highlights the ongoing effort to combat benefit fraud and protect taxpayer-funded programs. The charges against the defendants demonstrate the seriousness of these crimes and the commitment to holding those who commit them accountable.