{"id":2617292,"date":"2026-06-22T12:31:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:31:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suspected-illegals-make-up-11-of-15-arrested-in-massive-1-4m-massachusetts-fraud-scheme\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:33:51","slug":"suspected-illegals-make-up-11-of-15-arrested-in-massive-1-4m-massachusetts-fraud-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suspected-illegals-make-up-11-of-15-arrested-in-massive-1-4m-massachusetts-fraud-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspected Illegals Make Up 11 of 15 Arrested in Massive $1.4M Massachusetts Fraud Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsuspected-illegals-make-up-11-of-15-arrested-in-massive-1-4m-massachusetts-fraud-scheme%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2617292&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that 11 out of 15 individuals recently arrested in Massachusetts by the Department of Justice are believed to be illegal immigrants. They are accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $1.4 million in benefits from programs such as SNAP, Social Security, MassHealth, housing assistance, and unemployment benefits.The authorities highlight that some suspects used stolen identities to access these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-orders-federal-prisons-to-accommodate-the-needs-desires-and-demands-of-transgender-inmates\/\" title=\"Biden orders federal prisons to accommodate the needs, desires and demands of transgender inmates\">taxpayer-funded services<\/a>, which has resulted in rightful beneficiaries being unable to receive assistance. One individual, Heriberto Rodriguez, allegedly stole over $546,000. since January, over 65 suspects across the U.S. have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-convicted-eco-saboteur-disputes-biden-land-management-nominees-characterization-of-their-relationship\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Convicted Eco-Saboteur Disputes Biden Land Management Nominee\u2019s Characterization Of Their Relationship\">faced charges related<\/a> to more than $56 million in benefits fraud. Officials criticize the system for enabling illegal aliens to access numerous benefits freely, emphasizing efforts to crack down on such fraud and prepare for deportation of convicted individuals.The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-nfl-kickoff-rules-destroying-the-game-of-football-in-the-name-of-saving-it\/\" title=\"Impact of Updated NFL Kickoff Regulations on the Game of Football\">article underscores concerns<\/a> over widespread fraud, with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >law enforcement agencies actively pursuing offenders nationwide<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Eleven of 15 people the Department of Justice arrested in a fraud crackdown in Massachusetts are believed to be illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n<p>Taxpayers were ripped off for more than $1.4 million in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Social Security disability payments, MassHealth, housing assistance and unemployment benefits, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/11-suspected-illegal-immigrants-among-15-arrested-14m-benefits-fraud-crackdown-massachusetts-doj-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlarmingly, 11 of the 15 charged defendants are suspected illegal aliens, some of whom assumed stolen identities to steal these taxpayer-funded benefits and avoid detection,\u201d said acting Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin McDonald.<\/p>\n<p>One defendant alone, Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Massachusetts, is accused of ripping off taxpayers for more than $546,000 .<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn some cases, the victims of these crimes, the rightful beneficiaries of these funds, could not access benefits they needed,\u201d McDonald said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmerican citizens were boxed out of these programs because illegal aliens took their names to then take their money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said more than 65 defendants have been accused of more than $56 million in fraud since January, according to a Department of Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-charges-11-illegal-aliens-among-15-14m-benefit-fraud-crackdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere isn\u2019t any place else in the world where you can go and be handed free food, free housing, free healthcare and free monthly checks, while being in the country illegally,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, it appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is all ending on my watch. Beginning today, we will be announcing benefit fraud charges on a rolling basis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said the arrests document \u201cunchecked, unbridled, rampant fraud,\u201d according to Fox News.<\/p>\n<p>DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that after their convictions, the illegal immigrants charged \u201cwill be swiftly removed from our country so they can never defraud American taxpayers again. Under President Trump, DHS is putting the American people first again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among those charges was Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., who is alleged to have defrauded MassHealth for $162,180.<\/p>\n<p>Other charged were alleged to have committee fraud in a range between $11,000 and $75,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStealing someone\u2019s identity to rip off unemployment benefits isn\u2019t just breaking the law \u2014 it\u2019s stealing from every American who plays by the rules,\u201d Anthony P. D\u2019Esposito, Inspector General of the Department of Labor said.<\/p>\n<p>McDonald noted that fraudsters anywhere in America are being hunted down.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn less than two months following creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Department of Justice has announced over 650 major fraud enforcement activities across the country, including major takedowns in Minnesota, California and Ohio, and here today in Massachusetts,\u201d McDonald said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcvb.com\/article\/bennefit-fraud-15-charged-doj-june-18-2026\/71626187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WCVB-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eleven of 15 arrested in Massachusetts fraud scheme are believed to be illegal immigrants, stealing over $1.4M in benefits like SNAP, Social Security, MassHealth, housing aid, and unemployment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2617293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Michael-Featured-Image-1189.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6909,3813,5610],"class_list":["post-2617292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-fraud","tag-immigration","tag-massachusetts"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Michael-Featured-Image-1189.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617292"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2617296,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617292\/revisions\/2617296"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}