Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud and Identity Theft

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Santo Jesus Gonzalez Villar, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to two years and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. Gonzalez Villar will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In May 2019, Gonzalez Villar pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was arrested and charged in a July 2018 federal law enforcement sweep of 25 individuals accused of document and benefit fraud.

Dubbed “Double Trouble,” the July 2018 investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), comprised of local, state and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. 

On June 20, 2018, Gonzalez Villar submitted an Asbestos Worker Application with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards using the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico. He presented a Massachusetts driver’s license in the other person’s name bearing his photograph, a document he had obtained fraudulently, as proof of his identity. Based on the application and supporting identity document, Gonzalez Villar was issued an Asbestos Worker Identification Card in the name of the U.S. citizen. Gonzalez Villar also used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain driver’s licenses and to receive MassHealth benefits.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Santo Jesus Gonzalez Villar, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to two years and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. Gonzalez Villar will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In May 2019, Gonzalez Villar pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was arrested and charged in a July 2018 federal law enforcement sweep of 25 individuals accused of document and benefit fraud.

Dubbed “Double Trouble,” the July 2018 investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), comprised of local, state and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. 

On June 20, 2018, Gonzalez Villar submitted an Asbestos Worker Application with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards using the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico. He presented a Massachusetts driver’s license in the other person’s name bearing his photograph, a document he had obtained fraudulently, as proof of his identity. Based on the application and supporting identity document, Gonzalez Villar was issued an Asbestos Worker Identification Card in the name of the U.S. citizen. Gonzalez Villar also used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain driver’s licenses and to receive MassHealth benefits.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.