Dominican National Sentenced for Misusing U.S. Passport and Stealing Government Benefits

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

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for making false statements in applications for Social Security benefits and a U.S. passport. 

Daniel Polonia Morillo, 57, of Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 12 months in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $45,162.63 in restitution.  Polonia Morillo will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence.  In May 2019, Polonia Morillo pleaded guilty to making a false statement on an application for Social Security benefits, making a false statement in an application and use of a passport and theft of public money.  Polonia Morillo was charged in October 2018 and has been in custody since then.  

Polonia Morillo used the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a U.S. citizen to apply for Social Security benefits in December 2016.  At the time he applied, Polonia Morillo produced a United States passport in the other person’s name as proof of his identity.  In addition, Polonia Morillo used the identity of the U.S. citizen to fraudulently obtain Medicaid benefits from March 2012 through October 2018 and food stamps from April 2015 through October 2018 totaling over $45,000.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Jason Molina, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the announcement today.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for making false statements in applications for Social Security benefits and a U.S. passport. 

Daniel Polonia Morillo, 57, of Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 12 months in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $45,162.63 in restitution.  Polonia Morillo will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence.  In May 2019, Polonia Morillo pleaded guilty to making a false statement on an application for Social Security benefits, making a false statement in an application and use of a passport and theft of public money.  Polonia Morillo was charged in October 2018 and has been in custody since then.  

Polonia Morillo used the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a U.S. citizen to apply for Social Security benefits in December 2016.  At the time he applied, Polonia Morillo produced a United States passport in the other person’s name as proof of his identity.  In addition, Polonia Morillo used the identity of the U.S. citizen to fraudulently obtain Medicaid benefits from March 2012 through October 2018 and food stamps from April 2015 through October 2018 totaling over $45,000.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Jason Molina, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the announcement today.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.