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Brockton Man Charged with Aggravated Identity Theft

Publication date: 
Friday, April 16, 2021

BOSTON – A Brockton man who has been living under a false identity was arrested on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 on charges of aggravated identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number.

An individual referred to as “John Doe” was charged with one count of misusing a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, Doe was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 19, 2021.

According to charging documents, Doe used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and obtain a Massachusetts REAL ID driver’s license. Doe also used this person’s identifiers to apply for and receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). 

The charge of misuse of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Brockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Additional Details
URL
Component
USAO - Massachusetts;
OIG
Department of Labor OIG