Richard Zapata Suarez, Identity Theft, Massachusetts 2016

BOSTON – Richard Zapata Suarez, 33, a Dominican national formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts, is headed to federal prison after admitting to a brazen identity theft scheme. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock handed down a 12-month sentence today, followed by one year of supervised release, for Suarez’s fraudulent use of a U.S. citizen’s Social Security number.

The scam unfolded in May 2016 when Suarez used the stolen Social Security number to apply for a renewal of a Massachusetts driver’s license – under the victim’s name, no less. He didn’t just stop at the number; Suarez presented forged documents to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, including a bogus Social Security card and a fabricated birth certificate, all in an attempt to solidify the deception and secure the fraudulent license.

Federal investigators weren’t fooled. The case was cracked by the Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a multi-agency powerhouse dedicated to dismantling schemes like this. The DBFTF brings together experts from various federal, state, and local agencies to combat document, identity, and benefit fraud.

U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, alongside Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, announced the sentencing. They emphasized the collaborative effort required to bring Suarez to justice, acknowledging valuable assistance from a long list of agencies including the Social Security Administration, U.S. Secret Service, and Massachusetts State Police.

The investigation wasn’t a solo operation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Marshals, and even the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General all contributed to the case. This highlights the widespread impact of identity theft and the coordinated response needed to fight it.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. Suarez’s attempt to build a life under a false identity has landed him in prison, serving as a warning to others contemplating similar crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar federal fraud convictions.

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