RI Man Nabbed for $46K Benefits Scam

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, 48, of Providence, is facing the music after admitting today to a calculated scheme that bilked Rhode Island’s public assistance programs out of over $46,000. The Dominican national copped a plea in federal court, confessing to using a stolen Social Security number to line his pockets with funds meant for those truly in need.

According to court documents unsealed today, Ramirez Rodriguez wasn’t just after a quick buck – he was in it for the long haul. Between March 2014 and August 2020, he systematically exploited the Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Program, known as RITE Care, raking in a staggering $39,023 in fraudulent healthcare benefits. He didn’t stop there. From March 2017 to August 2020, using the same stolen identity, he secured $7,342 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

The audacity didn’t end with financial gain. In March 2018, Ramirez Rodriguez compounded his crimes by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship when applying for a Rhode Island identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles. This fabricated claim further cemented his ability to operate under a false identity and continue his fraudulent activities, effectively mocking the system.

Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus didn’t mince words, announcing the guilty plea and emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses. Ramirez Rodriguez now faces sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on February 28, 2022. The charges against him – false representation of a Social Security number, health care fraud, theft of public money, and false representation of citizenship – carry significant penalties.

This wasn’t a solo operation. A multi-agency task force brought Ramirez Rodriguez down, with investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General all contributing to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. is prosecuting the case, promising to see justice served.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. Ramirez Rodriguez’s actions are a stark reminder that defrauding public assistance programs isn’t a victimless crime. It’s a theft from the community, and those who engage in it will be held accountable.

RELATED: Ukraine Fugitive Nabbed in Syracuse: Cops Allege Attempted Murder

RELATED: MS-13 Gangbanger Nabbed in New Orleans, Faces Deportation