Worcester Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing Government Money

BOSTON - A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Worcester today to participating in a scheme to steal more than $110,000 from the federal government.

Marvin Lubin, 22, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to theft of public money. In March 2014, Lubin was charged in a felony information. Sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2014.

In early 2013, Lubin and a co-conspirator, Sniders Jean-Jacques, recruited several individuals to work as couriers in a scheme to steal and launder Social Security and IRS tax refund payments. Lubin hosted a meeting in his home in Worcester, which included Jean-Jacques and several of the couriers. At the direction of Lubin and Jean-Jacques, the couriers opened bank accounts in Massachusetts in the names of fake businesses. On various dates in 2013, illegally obtained Social Security benefits and IRS refunds were directly deposited into the accounts. At the direction of Lubin or Jean-Jacques, the couriers immediately withdrew the money in cash, and then delivered the cash as instructed by Lubin or Jean-Jacques. In some instances, couriers brought cash directly to Lubin. Jean-Jacques or Lubin would typically authorize the couriers to retain a portion of the stolen money as payment for their courier services.

On Oct. 10, 2013, during the execution of a search warrant of Lubin’s home, law enforcement agents recovered, among other things, a debit card associated with one of the bank accounts opened in the name of a fake business, and a list of 375 names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. On the same date, law enforcement agents interviewed Lubin, who admitted to his role in this scheme. Jean-Jacques was arrested on March 18, 2014.

The investigation so far has determined that as part of this scheme, Social Security payments totaling $11,689 were illegally obtained under the identities of 14 victims, and IRS payments totaling $98,610 were illegally obtained under the identities of 20 victims.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Stephen Marks, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Chief Gary J. Gemme of the Worcester Police, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.