Reynaldo Martinez, SNAP and U.S. Treasury Check Fraud, Rhode Island 2025

PROVIDENCE, RI – Reynaldo Martinez, 32, of Pawtucket, is headed back to federal prison after being sentenced today for a brazen scheme to defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the U.S. Treasury, totaling over $100,000. The career criminal, already facing supervision for prior fraud convictions, continued his illegal activities while on release, proving a complete disregard for the law. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced the 73-month and one-day sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., followed by three years of supervised release.

Martinez pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025, to two counts of conspiracy, one count of misuse of a Social Security number, and the serious charge of aggravated identity theft. Court documents detail a systematic operation where Martinez personally visited multiple Rhode Island Department of Human Services offices, submitting fraudulent SNAP applications built on a foundation of stolen identities. He managed to obtain at least 40 SNAP EBT cards using pilfered Social Security numbers and fabricated driver’s licenses, netting a fraudulent $33,192.36 in benefits.

But the SNAP fraud wasn’t Martinez’s only hustle. He also engaged in a scheme to cash altered U.S. Treasury checks made payable to himself. Working with accomplices, Martinez acquired checks legitimately issued to others, then meticulously altered them to reflect counterfeit identification. These fraudulently cashed or deposited checks amounted to approximately $79,532.32, adding significantly to his ill-gotten gains. This wasn’t a one-time slip-up; it was a calculated, ongoing effort to exploit the system.

This latest conviction isn’t Martinez’s first trip to the federal penitentiary. Records show a lengthy history of arrests and convictions across multiple states dating back to 2012, all centered around fraud and related crimes. In November 2017, he received a 48-month federal sentence and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of access fraud, and a slew of other financial crimes, including bank fraud and conspiracy. The current offenses were committed while he was still serving that supervised release – a clear indication of his commitment to a life of crime.

Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan prosecuted the case, a complex investigation that required the combined efforts of multiple federal and state agencies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit, Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island State Police, and several local police departments (Pawtucket, Warwick, West Warwick, Woonsocket, Foxborough, MA, and Walmart Global Investigations) all contributed to bringing Martinez to justice.

The 73-month sentence sends a clear message: exploiting federal programs and repeatedly violating the law will be met with significant consequences. Martinez’s pattern of criminal behavior demonstrates a blatant disregard for the law and the hardworking taxpayers who fund these vital programs. He will now have ample time to reflect on his choices behind bars.

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