A Colombian woman, unlawfully residing in Boston, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally receiving more than $259,000 in Section 8 rental assistance, more than $100,000 in disability benefits, more than $40,000 in SNAP benefits, and voter fraud. The defendant also applied for a United States passport and received a Massachusetts REAL ID, as well as eight other Massachusetts IDs, using a stolen name.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris sentenced Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 60, to 33 months in prison. The defendant was also sentenced to pay restitution of $404,194. She is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.
In February 2026, Orovio-Hernandez was convicted following a five-day jury trial of one count of false representation of a Social Security number; one count of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport; one count of aggravated identity theft; three counts of receiving stolen government money or property; and one count of fraudulent voting. Orovio-Hernandez has been in federal detention since he was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and then charged in a superseding indictment in May 2025.
“For more than two decades, this defendant treated the identity of an American citizen as a personal entitlement—exploiting it to enrich herself, evade the law, and access government programs and privileges reserved for lawful residents and citizens of this country,” stated United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This was a deliberate, calculated fraud scheme carried out with complete disregard for American taxpayers, our public institutions, and the integrity of our elections.” Even after her crimes were discovered, the defendant attempted to run and lied under oath instead of accepting responsibility. This case is exactly why we launched the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. These are not victimless crimes—and those who steal public benefits, exploit stolen identities, and undermine public trust should expect federal prosecution.”
“Today’s sentencing holds Ms. Orovio-Hernandez accountable for a multi-decade scheme involving passport fraud, identity theft, and the abuse of federal programs,” said Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Boston Field Office. “DSS special agents will continue to investigate those who undermine the integrity of U.S. travel documents, defraud American citizens, and endanger the security of our nation. The collaborative relationships that DSS has with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners were essential in this investigation.”
“This sentence reflects the serious consequences of using a stolen identity to defraud government programs, obtain official documents under false pretenses, and undermine the integrity of our democratic processes,” said Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Boston–New York Field Division. “The defendant exploited a stolen identity to acquire Social Security benefits and commit additional federal charges. We remain dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold responsible individuals who use a phony Social Security number and misuse Social Security services for personal gain.”
“Orovio-Hernandez spent more than two decades living under a false identity while orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $400,000 in taxpayer-funded federal benefits, including substantial HUD rental assistance funds intended to support our nation’s most vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Inspector General. “Her acts were not a one-time mistake or loss in judgment, but rather a deliberate and prolonged effort to cheat the United States government over many years. HUD OIG remains committed to working with the US Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate those who exploit federally sponsored housing programs and jeopardize the integrity of essential public assistance programs.”
Orovio-Hernandez, a Colombian person without legal status in the United States, lived under a stolen identity for almost 20 years, using the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a Puerto Rican-born American citizen. From 2004 until 2024, Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to obtain nine Massachusetts-issued identification documents, including driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, and a Massachusetts REAL ID. Orovio-Hernandez obtained the IDs by frequently submitting bogus identity documents in the victim’s name, such as a Social Security card and Puerto Rico birth certificate. Orovio-Hernandez also filed petitions in Puerto Rico Superior Court for a late-registered Puerto Rican birth certificate using the stolen name, and she eventually acquired the phony birth certificate in November 2022.
Using the stolen identity, Orovio-Hernandez unlawfully acquired hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal benefits meant for US citizens and lawful residents. Between April 2005 and January 2025, Orovio-Hernandez improperly received approximately $43,348 in SNAP benefits after repeatedly claiming under penalty of perjury that she was a U.S. citizen. In addition, from July 2014 through January 2025, Orovio-Hernandez fraudulently received approximately $101,257 in Supplemental Security Income disability benefits after falsely representing to the Social Security Administration that she was a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico who had never used another name or lived outside the United States. Orovio-Hernandez also obtained approximately $259,589 in Section 8 rental assistance benefits from October 2011 through January 2025 after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on federally subsidized housing applications and annual recertification forms.
In furtherance of the scheme, Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to vote in the November 2024 presidential election in Boston. Later that year, in November 2024, Orovio-Hernandez appeared at a U.S. Post Office in Jamaica Plain and applied for a U.S. passport using the stolen identity, falsely claiming she was born in Puerto Rico and submitting the fraudulently obtained Massachusetts REAL ID and Puerto Rico birth certificate as proof of identity.
The announcement was made by US Attorney Foley, DSS SAC Hebert, SSA OIG SAC Connelly, HUD OIG SAC Rice, and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the US Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Northeast Region. The United States Postal Inspection Service provided valuable assistance with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant US Attorney James J. Nagelberg and Assistant US Attorney Allegra Flamm from the Major Crimes Unit.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the formation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide program launched in response to widespread fraud being discovered in Massachusetts. The team is led by two senior federal prosecutors who serve as fraud coordinators. Their objective is to aggressively investigate and prosecute the misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
The public is encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division investigates and prosecutes individuals who perpetrate fraud against the American people. The Department’s efforts to combat fraud complement President Trump’s Task Force to eradicate Fraud, a whole-of-government initiative led by Vice President J.D. Vance to eradicate fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs.
Leave a Comment