12 Dominican Nationals Charged With Social Security Number Misuse and Identity Theft Fraud

August 16, 2018

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

BOSTON – 12 Dominican nationals were indicted today in federal court in Boston with various charges of aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. All 12 defendants were previously charged by criminal complaints on July 26, 2018, in a federal document and benefit fraud sweep and are currently in custody.

The following defendants were each indicted on one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of false representation of a Social Security number:

Alejandra Eulalia Baez Arias, 40, of Lawrence;

Saddan Rafael Bautista Diaz, 27, of Dorchester;

Robert Crisologo Bobadilla Baez, 43, of Mattapan;

Fernando Cedeno Carpio, 34, residing in Houston, Texas, with legal permanent resident status;

Ramon Lara Martinez, 45, of Hyde Park, was also indicted on one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm;

Viterbo Enrique Minaya Melo, 30, of Lawrence;

Ulises Francisco Mota Carmona, 35, of Lawrence;

Yhoan Alexis Nivar Rodriguez, 29, residing in Mattapan with legal permanent resident status, was also indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl;

Randy Manuel Percel Arias, 23, of Lawrence;

Jose Mercedes Polanco Guerrero, 47, of Dorchester; and

Carmen Sanchez Garcia De Martinez, 64, a dual Dominican and Venezuelan national residing in Springfield.

Erika Bautista Diaz, 30, was indicted on one count of false representation of a Social Security number.

The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. False representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being an alien in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers, Karen Burzycki, Rachel Hemani and Patrick Callahan are prosecuting the cases.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.