Providence Man Admits to False Use of a Social Security Number to Defraud Rhode Island Food Stamp, Medicaid Programs

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

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man today admitted to a federal court judge that he fraudulently used another individual’s Social Security number to defraud the Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Program of more than $39,000, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Program of more than $7,000, and also used the number to obtain a Rhode Island identification card, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.

Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, 48, a Dominican national, pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, health care fraud, theft of public money, and false representation of citizenship.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, between March 2014 and August 2020, Ramirez Rodriguez used a Social Security number and other documents belonging to another person to fraudulently gain $39,023 in health care benefits from RITE Care, Rhode Island’s Medicaid Managed Care Program.

In a second scheme that ran from March 2017 to August 2020, using the same Social Security number, Ramirez Rodriguez applied for and was approved to receive $7,342 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

Finally, in March 2018, Ramirez Rodriguez falsely stated that he was a United States citizen when applying for and receiving a Rhode Island identification card from the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles.

Ramirez Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on February 28, 2022.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations; and U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.