Dominican National Sentenced For Social Security Fraud

BOSTON - A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for Social Security fraud.

Luis Alberto Fernandez Fernandez, 28, a Dominican national residing in Salem with legal permanent resident status, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served (12 days) and one year of supervised release. In November 2018, Fernandez Fernandez pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number. He was arrested in July 2018 as part of a law enforcement sweep aimed at detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. 

In September 2016, before he became a lawful permanent resident, Fernandez Fernandez applied for a Massachusetts ID card using the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico. His application was denied.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.