Illegal Alien Who Lived in U.S. Under Stolen Identity for More Than Two Decades Sentenced to Prison for Voter Fraud, Identity Theft and Stealing Over $400,000 in Federal Benefits

BOSTON - A Colombian woman, unlawfully residing in Boston, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally receiving more than $259,000 in Section 8 rental assistance; over $100,000 in disability benefits; over $40,000 in SNAP benefits; and voter fraud. The defendant also applied for a United States passport and obtained a Massachusetts REAL ID along with eight other Massachusetts IDs under a stolen identity.

Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 60, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 33 months in prison. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $404,194. She is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.

In February 2026, Orovio-Hernandez was convicted following a five-day jury trial of one count of false representation of a Social Security number; one count of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport; one count of aggravated identity theft; three counts of receiving stolen government money or property; and one count of fraudulent voting. Orovio-Hernandez has remained in federal custody since being indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and later charged in a superseding indictment in May 2025.

"For more than two decades, this defendant treated the identity of an American citizen as a personal entitlement - exploiting it to enrich herself, evade the law and access government programs and privileges reserved for lawful residents and citizens of this country," said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. "This was a deliberate, calculated fraud scheme carried out with blatant disregard for American taxpayers, our public institutions and the integrity of our elections. Even after her crimes were uncovered, the defendant attempted to flee and lied under oath rather than accept responsibility. This case is exactly why we launched the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. These are not victimless crimes - and those who steal public benefits, exploit stolen identities and undermine public trust should expect federal prosecution."

"Today's sentencing holds Ms. Orovio-Hernandez accountable for a multi-decade scheme involving passport fraud, identity theft, and the abuse of federal programs," said Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Boston Field Office. "DSS special agents will continue to investigate those who undermine the integrity of U.S. travel documents, defraud American citizens, and endanger the security of our nation. The collaborative relationships that DSS has with the U.S. Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners was essential in this investigation."

"This sentence reflects the serious consequences of using a stolen identity to defraud government programs, obtain official documents under false pretenses, and undermine the integrity of our democratic processes," said Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Boston-New York Field Division. "The defendant unlawfully used a stolen identity to obtain Social Security benefits and commit additional federal offenses. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable individuals who commit false representation of a Social Security number and exploit Social Security programs for personal gain."

"Orovio-Hernandez spent more than two decades living under a false identity while orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $400,000 in taxpayer-funded federal benefits, including substantial HUD rental assistance funds intended to support our nation's most vulnerable populations," said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). "Her actions were not a one-time mistake or lapse in judgment, but a calculated and sustained effort to defraud the United States Government over many years. HUD OIG remains steadfast in our commitment to working alongside the U.S. Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit federally funded housing programs and threaten the integrity of critical public assistance programs."

Orovio-Hernandez, a Colombian national without lawful status in the United States, lived under a stolen identity for more than 20 years using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico. From 2004 through 2024, Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to obtain nine Massachusetts-issued identification documents, including driver's licenses, learner's permits and a Massachusetts REAL ID. To obtain the IDs, Orovio-Hernandez repeatedly submitted fraudulent identity documents, including a Social Security card and Puerto Rico birth certificate in the victim's name. Orovio-Hernandez also filed petitions in Puerto Rico Superior Court seeking a late-registered Puerto Rico birth certificate under the stolen identity and ultimately obtained the fraudulent birth certificate in November 2022.

Using the stolen identity, Orovio-Hernandez fraudulently obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal benefits intended for U.S. citizens and lawful residents. Between April 2005 and January 2025, Orovio-Hernandez improperly received approximately $43,348 in SNAP benefits after repeatedly claiming under penalty of perjury that she was a U.S. citizen. In addition, from July 2014 through January 2025, Orovio-Hernandez fraudulently received approximately $101,257 in Supplemental Security Income disability benefits after falsely representing to the Social Security Administration that she was a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico who had never used another name or lived outside the United States. Orovio-Hernandez also obtained approximately $259,589 in Section 8 rental assistance benefits from October 2011 through January 2025 after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on federally subsidized housing applications and annual recertification forms.

In furtherance of the scheme, Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to vote in the November 2024 presidential election in Boston. Later that year, in November 2024, Orovio-Hernandez appeared at a U.S. Post Office in Jamaica Plain and applied for a U.S. passport using the stolen identity, falsely claiming she was born in Puerto Rico and submitting the fraudulently obtained Massachusetts REAL ID and Puerto Rico birth certificate as proof of identity.

U.S. Attorney Foley; DSS SAC Hebert; SSA OIG SAC Connelly; HUD OIG SAC Rice; and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations - Northeast Region made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.