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Salem Man Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud
BOSTON – A Dominican national has pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud in federal court in Boston. Luis Alberto Fernandez Fernandez, 28, a Dominican national residing in Salem with legal permanent resident status, pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number.
Fernandez Fernandez was arrested in July 2018 as part of a law enforcement sweep aimed at detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. His arrest was part of a larger effort to combat identity theft and the misuse of Social Security numbers.
The investigation revealed that in September 2016, before Fernandez Fernandez became a lawful permanent resident, he applied for a Massachusetts ID card using the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico. His application was denied.
Fernandez Fernandez now faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. Fernandez Fernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on February 27, 2019.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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