Romulo Alvarez Reyes, Social Security Fraud, Massachusetts 2024

A Salem Man is Behind Bars for Social Security Fraud

A 36-year-old Dominican national, Romulo Alvarez Reyes, residing in Salem, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for Social Security fraud.

On Nov. 19, 2014, Alvarez Reyes applied for a Massachusetts identification card using the name and Social Security number of a Puerto Rican citizen. He presented a Puerto Rican birth certificate and a Social Security card in the other person's name to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles as proof of his identity.

Based on the application and supporting identity documents, Alvarez Reyes was issued an identification card in the name of the Puerto Rican citizen.

The case against Alvarez Reyes was part of a 2018 federal law enforcement sweep that targeted 25 individuals accused of document and benefit fraud. The investigation, dubbed “Double Trouble,” was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF).

Alvarez Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number. He will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, along with other agencies. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/dominican-national-sentenced-social-security-fraud-5