Federal prosecutors in Boston announced charges against 15 individuals on June 18, 2026, in connection with an approximately $1.4 million benefit fraud scheme targeting Massachusetts state and federal assistance programs [1]. The defendants include 11 foreign nationals present in the country unlawfully and four U.S. citizens [1][2]. Charges filed include aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds, and making false statements related to health care programs [1].
The charged programs include MassHealth, Massachusetts's Medicaid program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP [1]. Both programs are jointly funded by state and federal dollars and administered under federal statutory frameworks, including Title XIX of the Social Security Act for Medicaid and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 for SNAP. Aggravated identity theft under 18 U.S.C. § 1028A carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence upon conviction, making it a significant charging lever in fraud cases of this type.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, led by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, announced the arrests alongside federal law enforcement partners [1]. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin McDonald is handling prosecution [1]. The Department of Justice framed the action as part of a broader federal initiative targeting government benefit fraud, with prosecutors drawing explicit attention to the immigration status of the majority of defendants [1][2]. That framing aligns with the current administration's stated enforcement priorities, which link benefit integrity enforcement to immigration compliance.
All 15 defendants were arrested and face arraignment in federal court in the District of Massachusetts [1]. The cases remain at the charging stage, and no convictions have been entered. The charges represent allegations only. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Given the mandatory minimums attached to aggravated identity theft counts and the dollar volume of alleged losses, plea negotiations are likely to be a central feature of the cases as they proceed through the district court.