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Haverhill Man Indicted for $5,202 Pandemic Scam
BOSTON – A Haverhill man is facing serious charges after allegedly filing a fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claim in 2020 for a Brazilian resident who was living abroad and therefore ineligible for benefits.
Julio Roncaly Morais, 41, of Haverhill, was indicted on one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to the indictment, Morais filed a Massachusetts PUA claim on June 3, 2020, on behalf of a co-conspirator who was living in Brazil at the time. In the application, Morais allegedly certified under penalty of perjury that the co-conspirator was a resident of Massachusetts and was able to work but was unable to due to the pandemic.
As a result of this claim, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance paid a total of $5,202 in benefits before suspending payments due to an inability to reach the co-conspirator. The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. The Woburn and Norwood Police Departments also provided assistance in the case.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Morais is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date to face the charges.
The indictment is the result of a thorough investigation by federal authorities, who worked tirelessly to uncover the alleged scheme and bring those responsible to justice. The case serves as a reminder that those who engage in such schemes will be held accountable and face serious consequences.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Begg Lawrence, James D. Herbert, and Samuel R. Feldman of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and other federal and local authorities.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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