⏱ 2 min read
Juan Felipe Chalas, a 58-year-old Dominican man, pleaded guilty to stealing the identity of an American citizen from Puerto Rico to obtain a U.S. Passport and federally funded benefits from Massachusetts. The crime occurred in Salem, New Hampshire, and the plea was entered on a recent date. Chalas, who has been living in the U.S. unlawfully since at least 1996, used the victim’s identity to obtain passports, driver’s licenses, and various benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, disability benefits, and MassHealth benefits.
Chalas’s scheme, which spanned over two decades, involved assuming the identity of an American citizen from Puerto Rico and using it to obtain various forms of identification and benefits. He obtained U.S. passports in 1998, 2010, and 2023, as well as multiple Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles identifications. The total amount of fraudulently obtained benefits exceeds $300,000.
As part of his plea agreement, Chalas will serve one year of incarceration and two years of supervised release. He will also pay restitution of $12,584 to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, $25,491 to the Social Security Administration, and $266,857 to MassHealth. Chalas remains in federal custody pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for September 8, 2026.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. The prosecution is part of a broader effort to crack down on benefit fraud and identity theft in Massachusetts.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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