BOSTON — A 69-year-old Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston pleaded guilty last week to stealing a U.S. citizen’s identity to collect more than $18,000 in federal food-assistance benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced. The plea came the same day federal agents in western Kentucky arrested 13 illegal aliens, eight of whom face indictments for using false Social Security numbers to obtain employment.
Victor Suazo Reynoso pleaded guilty on May 27 before Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to illegal acquisition of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Reynoso used the name, birthdate, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits. He was charged and arrested in March. Each count carries up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Reynoso is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, announced the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting. Foley on March 26 announced the creation of a Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative she described as a response to “the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts.” The team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as fraud coordinators.
In Paducah, Ky., federal agents arrested 13 illegal aliens on May 21 and May 22, with eight facing indictments returned by a federal grand jury on May 12 and April 14 for falsely using Social Security numbers during employment verification. According to the indictments, the eight completed USCIS I-9 forms between June 23, 2021, and August 15, 2025, in McCracken County, using Social Security account numbers they knew were not assigned to them. The five not charged criminally will be held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and potential deportation.
“As alleged in the indictment, these illegal aliens lied about their status to gain employment and, thereby, took jobs from American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky. “This prosecution is part of our continuing effort to support President Trump’s mission to enforce American’s immigration laws and put Americans first.”
“These are not victimless crimes,” said ICE Louisville acting Assistant Field Office Director Luis Aguirre. “Using fraudulent social security numbers to take jobs from American citizens hurts our communities and American workers.” Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant for the SSA Office of the Inspector General, said the arrests “highlight our commitment to protecting the integrity of Social Security numbers and holding accountable those who misuse the identities of American citizens for unlawful employment.”
The Kentucky case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee, is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Each of the eight indicted defendants faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin W. Jackson of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville and Acting Special Agent in Charge Norman Jenkins of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General assisted in the investigation. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division supporting President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance.
Reynoso’s sentencing before Chief Judge Casper is scheduled for Sept. 2.