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Four people, including two Venezuelan citizens, used 115 stolen identities in a $1 million food stamp and pandemic unemployment fraud scheme. Ministry of Justice said Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors said the suspects stole the identities of people across the country, including six children, to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as pandemic unemployment benefits in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington and Nevada.
The defendants are Joel Viciioso Fernandez, 42, and Raul Fernandez Viciioso, 37, both from Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Roman Vequiz Fernandez, 32, and Coralba Albarracin Siniva, 24, both Venezuelan citizens living in Leominster, Massachusetts.
Raul Fernandez Viciioso was found to have fraudulently obtained EBT benefits to purchase food, authorities said. Fernandez and three other defendants are accused of using more than 100 stolen identities to obtain food stamps and pandemic unemployment benefits. (Ministry of Justice)
All four purchased the stolen identities of 24 “families” on SNAP applications. Applicants submitted in the names of more than 100 people listed as living in two single-family apartments in Providence, Rhode Island
Raul Fernandez Vicioso dominican citizenand Joel Viciioso Fernandez allegedly used their own personal information to create fraudulent SNAP benefit accounts that were found to be intermingled with victim identities on the applications.
Federal prosecutors said the suspects also provided images of fake passports and passport cards that metadata indicated were taken inside or near the El Primo restaurant run by Raul Fernandez Viciioso of Leominster, Massachusetts.
Authorities said SNAP benefits were used to purchase food in bulk at various local wholesalers and food markets, including multi-pound packages of chicken, beef and pork, to stock the El Primo restaurant.
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On November 28, 2018, the Department of Justice held a press conference in Washington, D.C., to announce a crackdown on computer hacking and extortion. The seal of the Department of Justice was displayed on the podium. .
“They obtained the supplies for free through fraudulent SNAP benefits, then prepared and sold the menu items at El Primo restaurants for full profits, then remitted the fraudulent proceeds to individuals residing in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, among others,” the DOJ said.
Additionally, between April 2020 and December 2021, the four defendants allegedly received $700,000 by submitting fraudulent information Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Nevada.
At least 29 different identities were allegedly used in the PUA applications, all of which listed the El Primo restaurant address as a residential address. Prosecutors allege that approximately $276,021 in fraudulent PUA benefits were deposited into bank accounts in the names of the El Primo restaurant, Raul Fernandez Viciioso, Joel Viciioso Fernandez and other co-conspirators.
On October 30, 2025, the EBT logo was hung on the window of a grocery store in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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During a search of Raul Fernandez Vicioso’s home and restaurant, investigators found fraudulently obtained Massachusetts and Rhode Island EBT cards, fraudulent documents with Providence addresses involved in the alleged scheme, printed ledgers and handwritten lists containing more than 100 identities and SNAP-related mail.
All four defendants are charged with conspiring to use, transfer, obtain and possess SNAP benefits. Raul Fernandez Viciioso, 37, was charged with conspiracy to commit SNAP fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, SNAP benefit fraud, aiding and abetting, and money laundering.
The remaining three were charged with conspiring to use, transfer, obtain and possess SNAP benefits.
