BOSTON – The grim tale of Yonelin Manuel Baez Soto, a Dominican national, took another turn today as he pleaded guilty in federal court to Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The 24-year-old’s deceitful schemes were exposed when he applied for Massachusetts identification under the guise of someone else’s identity. On Oct. 15, 2014, Oct. 17, 2014, and Aug. 4, 2015, Baez Soto fraudulently procured a learner’s permit and identification card, using the stolen details of a Puerto Rican-born U.S. citizen.
But law enforcement’s relentless pursuit eventually led to his downfall. In September 2018, while serving time at Essex County Correctional Facility for distributing fentanyl under another man’s identity, Baez Soto was caught thanks to a fingerprint match with a Dominican Republic identification document in his name.
Today’s guilty plea comes with severe consequences. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. has set sentencing for Sept. 19, 2019, where Baez Soto will be sentenced for up to five years in prison on the Social Security fraud charges and an additional two years for aggravated identity theft.
The judge will also impose a fine of $250,000 for each offense, with supervised release terms to follow. Sentences are ultimately determined by federal district court judges based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Scott Antolik of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein, all stood united in announcing Baez Soto’s fate.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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