Dominican National Sentenced For Social Security Fraud

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston.

Fausto Junior Feliz Feliz, 41, a Dominican national formerly residing in Malden, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 12 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Feliz Feliz will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In January 2019, Feliz Feliz pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number. He was arrested and charged in a July 2018 federal law enforcement sweep of 25 individuals accused of document and benefit fraud.

Dubbed “Double Trouble,” the July 2018 investigation was aimed at detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. 

On Sept. 3, 2015, Feliz Feliz, applied for a Massachusetts identity card using the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a Puerto Rican citizen. He supported his application with a Puerto Rican birth certificate and a Social Security card in the other person’s name. Based on the application and supporting identity documents, Feliz Feliz was issued a Massachusetts identity card in the name of the Puerto Rican citizen.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Adam Schneider, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Callahan of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.