Tiffany Pacheco, COVID-19 Fraud Scheme, Massachusetts 2021

A former employee of the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been sentenced for conspiring to misuse her position in an effort to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds through fraudulent claims.

Tiffany Pacheco, 36, formerly of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $199,555 and forfeiture of $17,181.

Pacheco pleaded guilty on August 30, 2021, to six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Tiffany Pacheco was hired by the DUA in April 2020, shortly after her release from federal prison following a conviction for aggravated identity theft. While employed by DUA, Pacheco abused her position and access to the PUA claim system to submit fraudulent claims using stolen identity information and to submit fraudulent PUA claim information on behalf of herself and her husband, Arthur Pacheco, who was incarcerated in Texas until September 4, 2020, and thus ineligible for PUA funds.

Pacheco also induced a friend to continue her scheme after she was caught, charged, and detained.

“Ms. Pacheco violated the public’s trust by egregiously abusing her position as a DUA employee to perpetrate a fraud scheme that stole personal information from innocent victims and stole money from hardworking taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

Tiffany Pacheco, a/k/a Tiffany Tavery, is a 36-year-old former employee of the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.

Criminal Charges: six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

City and State: Boston, Massachusetts.

Exact Date: August 30, 2021 (plea) and April 2024 (sentencing).

Sentence or Outcome: 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Pacheco was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $199,555 and forfeiture of $17,181.

Dollar Amounts: $199,555 (restitution) and $17,181 (forfeiture).

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