Former Dorchester Man Charged with Social Security Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

BOSTON – A former Dorchester man was arrested yesterday in connection with using the identifying information of another person to apply for a driver’s license and United States passport.

Wilfrido Baez Villar, 46, was charged with one count of false representation of a Social Security number, one count of making a false statement in an application for a passport and one count of aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, Baez Villar was detained pending a detention hearing set for July 22, 2021.

According to the charging document, in January 2019, Baez Villar falsely represented another individual’s Social Security number as his own on a renewal application for a Massachusetts driver’s license. In addition, in December 2019, Baez Villar allegedly used the victim’s name, date of birth and Social Security number on an application for a U.S. passport. 

The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of making a false statement in an application for a passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Jake Jermaine, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Regional Office, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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