Baez Gets 25 Months for ID Theft & Social Security Fraud

BOSTON – Robert Crisologo Bobadilla Baez, 43, a Dominican national residing in Boston, is headed to prison after being sentenced today for brazen Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole handed down a 25-month sentence, followed by one year of supervised release. The sentence stems from a guilty plea entered back in January 2019.

Baez was initially snagged during a July 2018 law enforcement sweep targeting document, identity, and benefit fraud rings operating in the area. Investigators were cracking down on those exploiting the system, and Baez quickly became a prime target. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment offense; it was a calculated attempt to establish a false identity and exploit U.S. benefits.

The fraud began in 2001 when Baez illegally entered the United States, landing in New York City under a fabricated name and with clearly counterfeit documents. He didn’t stop there. In December 2014, he upped the ante, successfully applying for a Massachusetts ID card using the stolen identity – name, Social Security number, and date of birth – of a U.S. citizen originally from Puerto Rico. The application was approved, cementing his fraudulent existence.

“This case underscores the lengths to which individuals will go to defraud our systems and assume false identities,” stated a source close to the investigation. “The collaborative effort between multiple federal agencies was crucial in bringing Baez to justice.” The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling spearheaded the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Major Crimes Unit handling the case. The government made it clear they weren’t just seeking punishment, but also removal. Following completion of his sentence, Baez will be deported from the United States, ending his years of deception.

The agencies involved – Homeland Security Investigations (Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh), Social Security Administration OIG (Special Agent in Charge Scott Antolik), and the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (Special Agent in Charge William B. Gannon) – all issued statements vowing to continue their work combating identity theft and protecting the integrity of federal benefit programs. This conviction serves as a warning: exploiting the system carries serious consequences.