Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief Fraud and Social Security Fraud
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts dated Thursday, January 16, 2025, announcing that Randolph Dominguez, 57, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money over COVID-19 relief funds and Social Security benefits totaling over $200,000. It states that Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2025. According to the release, in June 2020 he applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for Dominguez SP Interpreters and obtained $74,900 in July 2020 by falsely claiming gross business revenue of $600,000 the previous year, when it was only $16,989. It states that, separately, from April 2001 through April 2023 he stole approximately $163,642 in Social Security benefits.
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Press Release Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief Fraud and Social Security Fraud Thursday, January 16, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts Defendant stole benefits for 22 years BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fraudulently obtaining and misusing COVID-19 relief funds and stealing Social Security benefits totaling over $200,000. Randolph Dominguez, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2025. In June 2020, Dominguez submitted a loan application on behalf of an interpreter business he owned and operated, Dominguez SP Interpreters, to the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which provided loans to small businesses that suffered substantial economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dominguez fraudulently obtained $74,900 in EIDL funds from the SBA in July 2020 when he claimed falsely on his EIDL application that his gross business revenue was $600,000 the previous year, when it was only $16,989. Further, Dominguez improperly spent all of the EIDL funds received on non-business expenses. Separately, from April 2001 through April 2023, Dominguez stole approximately $163,642 in Social Security benefits. Dominguez’s father was receiving Social Security benefits at the time of his death in March 2001. His death was never reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the agency continued to pay monthly benefits on his behalf. Dominguez used his deceased father’s debit card to withdraw the improperly paid benefits at ATMs and to make purchases more than 22 years after his death. The charge of wire fraud provides 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, whichever is greater. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. Updated January 16, 2025 Topic Coronavirus Component USAO - Massachusetts Related Content Press Release Convicted Felon and Related Companies Agree to Pay More than $1 Million to Resolve Allegations that They Falsely Certified Eligibility for PPP Loans BOSTON – Ralph Caruso of Wenham and five companies that he part-owns, have agreed to pay $1.065 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that the companies falsely certified to... February 11, 2025 Press Release California Company Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to sell Misbranded N95 Masks to Hospital in Early Months of COVID-19 Pandemic BOSTON – A California company, and three individuals who owned and managed the company, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the shipment of facemasks that were misbranded as N95 respirators... February 11, 2025 Press Release Former Massachusetts State Senator Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for COVID and Tax Fraud BOSTON – Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean A. Tran was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for scheming to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and collecting income... February 7, 2025
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