A Colombian lady illegally within the Bay State is accused of residing below a stolen id for greater than 20 years and receiving greater than $400,000 in stolen federal advantages.
Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 59, additionally allegedly voted within the 2024 presidential election, and she or he obtained a Massachusetts Actual ID and eight different state IDs, in keeping with the Massachusetts U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace.
Orovio-Hernandez allegedly used the stolen id to submit a fraudulent voter registration in January 2023, and forged a fraudulent poll in final yr’s presidential election.
She’s accused of improperly receiving about $400,000 in federal advantages: $259,589 in Part 8 rental help advantages from October 2011 by January 2025; $101,257 in Social Safety incapacity advantages from July 2014 by January 2025; and $43,348 in Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) advantages from April 2005 by January 2025.
“For more than 20 years, this defendant is alleged to have built an entire life on the foundation of a stolen identity – including illegally voting in our presidential election and collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits intended for Americans in need,” Massachusetts U.S. Lawyer Leah Foley stated in a press release. “The fitting to vote is without doubt one of the many privileges of being a U.S. citizen.
“Government funded programs for those in need are intended to be safety nets for those living in our country lawfully – not support an illegal alien without a right to be here,” Foley added. “Ms. Orovio-Hernandez was entitled to none of these privileges as a Colombian citizen who was unlawfully in this country. The alleged crimes are an affront to every individual who plays by the rules and undermines many of the programs meant to support the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Based on courtroom filings, Orovio-Hernandez lived below a stolen id for greater than 20 years. Utilizing this stolen id, Orovio-Hernandez allegedly obtained 9 state IDs, together with a Massachusetts Actual ID and utilized for a U.S. passport.
“Stealing someone’s identity to unlawfully obtain Social Security benefits is not just theft—it’s a long-term abuse of a system meant to support those truly in need,” stated Amy Connelly, particular agent accountable for the Social Safety Administration Workplace of the Inspector Basic, Boston-New York Discipline Division.
“SSA OIG is committed to ensuring ineligible aliens are not receiving funds from SSA programs,” Connelly added. “For over 20 years, the defendant is alleged to have lived under a stolen identity, fraudulently collecting federal benefits, committing voter fraud, and undermining the integrity of public trust. This indictment reflects our continued commitment to uncovering long-term fraud and holding individuals accountable for exploiting the Social Security system.”
Orovio-Hernandez has been charged in a superseding indictment with one rely of false illustration of a Social Safety quantity; one rely of creating a false assertion in an utility for a United States passport; one rely of aggravated id theft; three counts of receiving stolen authorities cash or property; one rely of fraudulent voter registration; and one rely of fraudulent voting.
Orovio-Hernandez was beforehand charged in an indictment in February, and she or he has since remained in federal custody.
