Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, a Dominican National, is facing possible deportation after being convicted of several charges in federal court. He falsely represented his citizenship and social security number, misused a passport, and committed health care fraud. (One illegal activity just wasn’t enough I suppose).
In 2008 and 2010, Rodriguez applied for and received a passport using a Puerto Rican native’s personal identifying information. He then used that person’s Social Security number to apply for a Rhode Island driver’s license and identification card, which he later received.
That was not all he did. Rodriguez also illegally applied for and received $7,342.64 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and $39,023.61 in Rhode Island Medicaid Program Rite Care benefits. (The money may sound good, but crime never pays. You always get caught.)
Rodriguez pled guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, health care fraud, theft of public money, false representation of citizenship, and misuse of a passport. (It’s a good thing he ‘fessed up or his sentence of one year and eight days in prison could have been longer.)
Today’s Fraud of the Day comes from a Department of Justice press release “Providence Man Sentenced, Faces Deportation for Misuse of a Passport, False Citizenship and False Social Security Number Claims, Health Care Fraud,” published on March 18, 2022.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Dominican national who resided in Providence is facing deportation after being convicted and sentenced in federal court for falsely representing his citizenship and Social Security number, misusing a passport, and for health care fraud, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, 47, who has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on March 9, 2021, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to time served – one year and eight days. He is further detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement awaiting deportation proceedings.
