Acton Man Pleads Guilty to Using Stolen Identities to Obtain COVID Relief Funds
Summary
A U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts press release of January 5, 2023 announces that Edwin Acevedo, 36, of Acton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to the release, co-conspirators used stolen identities to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and the funds were laundered by using debit cards to buy iPhones that were re-sold for cash. It alleges that over $452,000 in SBA funds were fraudulently obtained, approximately $250,000 of which bought iPhones in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Co-conspirator Hector Garcia was indicted on Dec. 8, 2022, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2023.
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Press Release Acton Man Pleads Guilty to Using Stolen Identities to Obtain COVID Relief Funds Thursday, January 5, 2023 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts BOSTON – An Acton man pleaded guilty today in connection with a conspiracy to use stolen identities to fraudulently obtain disaster loan funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to launder the funds. Edwin Acevedo, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2023. Acevedo was arrested and charged along with co-conspirator Hector Garcia in August 2021. According to charging documents, Acevedo’s co-conspirators used stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. It is alleged that Garcia used stolen identity information of a United States citizen to open a fraudulent bank account, which was then linked to other fraudulent bank accounts set up to receive the SBA funds. Acevedo coordinated co-conspirators’ receiving some of the debit cards associated with fraudulent bank accounts into which SBA funds were deposited. Acevedo and co-conspirators laundered the SBA funds by using the debit cards to purchase iPhones, which Acevedo and others then re-sold for cash. It is also alleged that Garcia and other co-conspirators wired a portion of the funds to co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic. It is alleged that over $452,000 in SBA funds were fraudulently obtained in connection with the scheme. Approximately $250,000 of this money was used to purchase iPhones in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. On Dec. 8, 2022, Garcia was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He has since pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Orlando, Fla.; Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General; Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General; Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General; Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; Department of State; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; New Hampshire State Police; and the Acton, Nashua (N.H.), Manchester (N.H.) and Ocala (Fla.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna Nuzum and Adam Deitch of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Updated January 5, 2023 Topics COVID-Related Fraud Financial Fraud Component USAO - Massachusetts Related Content Press Release Former TSA Security Officer Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) while employed as a TSA... May 21, 2026 Press Release Illegal Alien Sentenced for Money Laundering and Identity Theft Charges BOSTON – A Dominican man unlawfully residing in Lawrence was sentenced in federal court in Boston for money laundering, false use of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft. May 18, 2026 Press Release Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud BOSTON – A Charlton, Mass. woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits and pension payments. May 12, 2026
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