Four Charged in Million-Dollar Stamp Fraud Scheme With Ties to Venezuela and Dominican Republic

Four people have been charged in a fraud scheme that allegedly used more than 100 stolen identities across multiple states to obtain over $1 million in public benefits, with proceeds later sent to recipients in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement and court filings in Massachusetts.

Federal prosecutors said three defendants were arrested and a fourth was charged in connection with the scheme, which allegedly obtained about $440,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and more than $700,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits across several states.

Those charged are Joel Vicioso Fernandez, 42, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Roman Vequiz Fernandez, 32, a Venezuelan national living in Leominster, Massachusetts; Coralba Albarracin Siniva, 24, a Venezuelan national living in Leominster; and Raul Fernandez Vicioso, 37, of Fitchburg, who prosecutors identified as a U.S. resident of Dominican origin. Raul Fernandez Vicioso faces additional charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering.

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According to charging documents, the defendants and alleged co-conspirators purchased and used the personal information of more than 100 real individuals from states including Florida, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. Prosecutors say the identities were used to create 24 SNAP "households," all listed as residing at two apartments in Providence, Rhode Island.

Authorities allege the group submitted SNAP applications supported by counterfeit passports and passport cards. Metadata cited in the DOJ statement indicated some images were taken inside or near El Primo Restaurant in Leominster, which Raul Fernandez Vicioso operated.

Investigators say fraudulent SNAP benefit cards were used to buy bulk quantities of food, including meat and poultry, from wholesalers and markets to supply the restaurant. Meals prepared with those supplies were then sold, generating revenue. Prosecutors allege that fraud proceeds were later wired "among other places, to individuals living in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic."

The DOJ said at least 29 identities were also used to file fraudulent PUA claims in six states, often listing the restaurant's address as the residence. Bank records cited by investigators show more than $276,000 in PUA funds deposited into accounts tied to the restaurant and alleged participants.

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