Dominican National Arrested For Fraudulent Applications for Passport And MassHealth Benefits

BOSTON – A Dominican national was arrested on March 12, 2019, and charged in federal court in Boston in connection with fraudulent statements on a passport application and an application for MassHealth benefits.

Hidel Romero Sanchez, 42, a Dominican national residing in Dorchester, was charged with making a false statement on a passport application and a false statement on an application for MassHealth benefits. He appeared in federal court in Boston on March 12, 2019, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 18, 2019.

The charge of false application for a passport provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison and the charge of making a false statement in a health care matter provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison. Each charge provides for up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.