Haverhill Man Accused of PUA Scam for Brazilian Resident

BOSTON – A Haverhill man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly exploiting the Massachusetts Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program to line his pockets – and those of an out-of-state accomplice. Julio Roncaly Morais, 41, was indicted today for a scheme that saw over $5,000 in benefits fraudulently claimed for a man residing in Brazil.

According to charging documents unsealed today, Morais filed the PUA claim on June 3, 2020, knowingly submitting false information. The claim was made on behalf of a co-conspirator who was demonstrably not eligible for Massachusetts unemployment benefits, being a resident of Brazil both before and after the application. Morais allegedly swore under penalty of perjury that the co-conspirator lived in Massachusetts and was both able and available to work, but prevented from doing so by the pandemic – a blatant lie.

The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance initially paid out $5,202 in benefits based on the fraudulent claim. Payments were eventually suspended when investigators couldn’t reach the supposed claimant. The scheme highlights the vulnerabilities exploited within the PUA program during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, as desperate individuals and opportunistic criminals alike sought to profit from the system.

Morais is now charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted on either charge, he faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a hefty fine of up to $250,000. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.

The investigation was a collaborative effort led by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations, Jonathan Mellone of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Harry Chavis, Jr. of the IRS’s Criminal Investigations. Local support was provided by the Woburn and Norwood Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Begg Lawrence, James D. Herbert, and Samuel R. Feldman are prosecuting the case.

It’s crucial to remember that the details presented in the charging documents are allegations at this stage. Julio Roncaly Morais is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

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