BOSTON – Wagner Sozi, 33, of Malden, Massachusetts, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for a brazen scheme to steal identities and siphon off funds from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. handed down a 39-month sentence, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered Sozi to forfeit and repay approximately $110,000.
Sozi pleaded guilty in May to two counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of making a false claim. The investigation revealed a systematic operation where Sozi pilfered personal information from multiple sources, including a Cambridge realty company where an associate worked. Files from the company were discovered in Sozi’s apartment, and numerous victims of his identity theft had been clients of the realty firm, including at least one whose name was used to file a fraudulent PUA claim.
The scope of the fraud extended beyond unemployment benefits. Sozi and a female accomplice flooded Massachusetts Staples locations with fake store credit applications, using the stolen identities of over 60 individuals. These accounts were then used to rack up over $80,000 in Visa gift card purchases. The pair received $8,000 in kickbacks for their efforts, highlighting the collaborative nature of the scheme. The stolen information didn’t stop at gift cards; Sozi used it to purchase a Rolex watch worth over $15,000, withdraw $5,000 in cash, and lease a Dodge Charger and a Ford Mustang – neither of which he ever returned.
The investigation also led to the indictment of Sozi’s accomplice. Voltaire pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2022. The U.S. Secret Service, leading the investigation alongside the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and multiple state and local police departments, meticulously traced the fraudulent activity back to Sozi and his network.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell emphasized the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting pandemic-related fraud. “This sentencing sends a clear message: exploiting a crisis for personal gain will be met with swift and severe consequences,” he stated. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Abely, Chief of Mendell’s Criminal Division. The investigation received valuable assistance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Unemployment Assistance, Program Integrity Unit; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Malden, Medford and Braintree Police Departments.
This case is part of a broader initiative by the Attorney General’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established in May 2021, to combat pandemic-related fraud. The task force aims to coordinate resources and enhance efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for defrauding relief programs. Individuals with information regarding COVID-19 fraud are encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud.
Related Federal Cases
- Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, Elder Fraud Scheme, Boston MA, 2026 · Pennsylvania
- HHS Office of Inspector General, Healthcare Fraud Crackdown, Washin… · Georgia
- John McClure and Sarah Chambers Sentenced for Contractor Fraud Sche… · Pennsylvania
- Viviane Cazeau, Bank Fraud Scheme, Massachusetts, 2023 · New Hampshire
- Elaine Monique Zavala-Charres, $260K IRS Mail Fraud, NY, 2023 · New Jersey
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News