The Justice Department said 15 people were charged in a scheme involving food, health, and disability benefits; the indictments are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent
The Department of Homeland Security said the Justice Department has announced indictments against 15 people in a benefit fraud scheme in Massachusetts, following an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
According to DHS, the DOJ announced on June 18, 2026, that the 15 defendants — described as 11 people in the country illegally and four U.S. citizens — were charged for their roles in a scheme totaling more than $1.4 million. The agency said the alleged fraud involved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, MassHealth benefits, and disability and unemployment benefits, among others. The indictments are allegations that have not been proven in court, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
DHS said the named defendants face charges tied to specific amounts of alleged fraud, ranging from a few thousand dollars to more than $160,000 in individual cases, with charges including SNAP fraud, MassHealth fraud, and conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
“These cases highlight a broader, deeply troubling pattern,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, who said fraud carries substantial costs to taxpayers and strains public benefits systems. McDonald said the division remains focused on rooting out fraud “whether committed by illegal aliens or anyone else.”
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said the defendants allegedly stole from programs including SNAP and MassHealth that are designed to help people in need of food and health care, and said the office would announce benefit fraud charges on a rolling basis going forward.
How the Investigation Worked
According to DHS, the indictments resulted from an investigation led by HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, working with the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office, and several federal inspectors general, including those for Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Labor, along with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The agency said HSI works to identify sources of identity and benefit fraud, including document manufacturers, brokers, and others who enable fraudulent benefit applications.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming of HSI New England said the surge operation had uncovered more than $1 million in alleged fraud and that the agency was redoubling its efforts with task force partners.
