Dominican National Charged with Aggravated Identity Theft and Stealing Government Benefits

BOSTON – A Dominican national was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston with identity theft, aggravated identity theft, theft of public money, and illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Isidro Viscaino-Soto, a/k/a Ysidro Vizcaino, 58, a Dominican national residing in Boston, was indicted on one count each of identity theft, aggravated identity theft, theft of public money and illegal reentry of a deported alien. Viscaino-Soto was arrested and charged by complaint on April 17, 2018, and has been in custody since.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers in Boston discovered Viscaino-Soto on April 12, 2018, and determined him to be illegally present in the United States.  Viscaino-Soto was previously deported on July 31, 2000, following a conviction for drug offenses. Court documents further allege that Viscaino-Soto used the Social Security number of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico in order to receive unemployment insurance, and in so doing, stole approximately $9,000 in federally-funded MassHealth benefits.

Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The identity theft charge provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000. Viscaino-Soto will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 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; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and, Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the announcement.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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