Dominican National Sentenced for ID Theft, Fraudulently Obtaining $11K in Benefits in RI

Dominican National Sentenced for ID Theft, Fraudulently Obtaining $11K in Benefits in RI

District of Rhode Island United States Attorney Aaron Weisman announced that a Dominican national in the United States illegally, who admitted to fraudulently gaining access to Medicaid benefits with the use of a stolen identity and Social Security number, was sentenced Monday to two years and one day in federal prison.

Martha Martinez Lara, 48, previously admitted to the court that in August 2015, she applied for Medicaid benefits in Rhode Island using a stolen identity, date of birth, and Social Security number of another person. Lara’s application for Medicaid coverage was approved, and from approximately September 2015 through January 2019, she obtained RIte Care benefits totaling $11,288.46.

An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations agents determined that the identity and Social Security number used by Lara belonged to a person living in Puerto Rico who told investigators that she never lived nor visited Rhode Island.

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Lara, who was arrested on August 1, 2019, pleaded guilty on December 2, 2019, to an information charging her with false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, and health care fraud.

Sentencing and Restitution 

Lara was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 24 months in federal prison, one year supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,288.46, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.