PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national in the United States
illegally, who admitted to fraudulently gaining access to Medicaid benefits
with the use of a stolen identity and Social Security number, was sentenced
today to two years and one day in federal prison.
Martha Martinez Lara, 48, previously admitted to the court
that in August 2015, she applied for Medicaid benefits in Rhode Island using a
stolen identity, date of birth, and Social Security number of another person.
Lara’s application for Medicaid coverage was approved, and from approximately
September 2015 through January 2019, she obtained RIte Care benefits totaling
$11,288.46.
An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations agents
determined that the identity and Social Security number used by Lara belonged
to a person living in Puerto Rico who told investigators that she never lived
nor visited Rhode Island.
Lara, who was arrested on August 1, 2019, pleaded guilty on
December 2, 2019, to an information charging her with false representation of a
Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, and health care fraud.
Lara was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge
John J. McConnell, Jr., to 24 months in federal prison, one year supervised
release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,288.46, announced
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge
of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General,
and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason
Molina.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Dulce Donovan.
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