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Worcester man charged in $162,180 Mass. Health fraud

  • Posted by Worcester News Sat at 8:06 AM - Filed in News - #Worcester  #crime  #U.S. Department of Justice  #MassHealth  #Federal court  #Health Care Fraud  #Identity Theft  #Federal Indictment  #Santo Escolastico Cuello  #Immigration  - 1,032 views

    WORCESTER — A 56-year-old Dominican national living in Worcester has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he used a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain more than $162,000 in Mass. Health benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

    Santo Escolastico Cuello, who federal authorities say is living in the United States illegally, was indicted on 3 counts of making false statements relating to health care matters and 1 count of aggravated identity theft.

    According to federal prosecutors, Cuello allegedly used the identity of a U.S. citizen, including the person's Social Security number, to apply for health care benefits in Massachusetts.

    Authorities allege Cuello falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen on his application and submitted a sworn affidavit repeating that claim.

    Federal court documents allege Cuello obtained approximately $162,180 in Mass. Health benefits using the stolen identity. Prosecutors also allege that Cuello identified himself to law enforcement as the person whose identity he had stolen during previous arrests.

    Cuello was initially charged by criminal complaint in June. His arraignment on the federal indictment will be scheduled for a later date.

    Each count of making false statements relating to a health care program carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

    The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory 2-year prison sentence that must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, along with up to a year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

    Cuello is also subject to deportation after completing any sentence imposed, according to federal authorities.

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