Diomedes is a hero in Greek mythology known for his participation in the Trojan War. This famous hero is not to be confused with Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, 48, who is a fraudster now known for committing Social Security fraud, Medicaid fraud, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud. (I’m sure his parents had high hopes for their son by naming him after a Greek hero, but alas, he is unfortunately a criminal.)
Ramirez Rodriguez, of Providence, Rhode Island, is a Dominican national who admitted to using an individual’s Social Security number to steal more than $39,023 from the Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Program, $7,342 from SNAP, and obtain a Rhode Island identification card. (He falsely claimed that he was a U.S. citizen when he applied for and received his state identification card from the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles.) These fraudulent acts occurred over between March 2014 and March 2018.
Ramirez Rodriguez used the stolen Social Security number of a person who resided in Puerto Rico and who later died in September 2018 to carry out his multi-tiered ruse. (It’s a good thing this person was already deceased or the shock from knowing about all the crime committed may have killed the victim anyway.) Additional research shows that Ramirez Rodriguez was apprehended in New York, Florida, and Rhode Island on more than 14 occasions and sentenced for drug and purloined goods accusations among other things. (In other words, this guy had quite the criminal record.)
The real heroes in this case are the many law enforcement agencies that worked together to bring this criminal down. Ramirez Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2022. (It’s a good guess that this guy will be getting a one-way ticket back to his homeland. Don’t let the screen door hit you in the back on your way out, buddy.)
Today’s Fraud of the Day comes from a Department of Justice press release, Providence Man Admits to False Use of a Social Security Number to Defraud Rhode Island Food Stamp, Medicaid Programs,” dated December 1, 2021.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man today admitted to a federal court judge that he fraudulently used another individual’s Social Security number to defraud the Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Program of more than $39,000, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Program of more than $7,000, and also used the number to obtain a Rhode Island identification card, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, 48, a Dominican national, pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, health care fraud, theft of public money, and false representation of citizenship.
