Fernando A. Lugo, a 55-year-old Schenectady man, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for stealing another person’s identity and using it to apply for a U.S. passport and government-administered benefits.
The sentence was handed down by the United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, following an investigation by the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and the Social Security Office of the Inspector General.
According to the announcement, Lugo, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, submitted a false application for a U.S. passport to the U.S. Post Office in Schenectady in April 2010. He used the name, Social Security Number, and date of birth of a U.S. citizen whom he knew to complete the application.
In February 2015, Lugo applied to receive Medicaid benefits with the Schenectady County Department of Social Services, again using the stolen identity. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White, who worked tirelessly to bring Lugo to justice.
Lugo pleaded guilty to the charges on March 11, admitting to his role in the identity theft and benefits fraud scheme. As part of his plea, he acknowledged that he had knowingly used another person’s identity to obtain government benefits and a U.S. passport.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and the Social Security Office of the Inspector General. The sentence of 33 months in prison reflects the seriousness of Lugo’s crimes and serves as a warning to others who would seek to engage in similar identity theft and benefits fraud schemes.
The case against Lugo was announced by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, Special Agent-in-Charge David Schnorbus of the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and John F. Grasso, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. The successful prosecution of this case demonstrates the commitment of these agencies to protecting the integrity of government benefits and preventing identity theft.
In a statement, United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian praised the work of the investigators and prosecutors involved in the case, saying that their efforts had brought a perpetrator of identity theft and benefits fraud to justice. The sentence of 33 months in prison will serve as a deterrent to others who would seek to engage in similar crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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