Two men have been arrested in Boston for allegedly submitting false information to obtain loans through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Dominik Manigo, 25, from Weymouth, and Nelson Roche Diaz, 28, from Brockton, face charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud. They appeared in federal court on Monday following their indictment by a grand jury.
According to the charging documents, both men allegedly submitted fraudulent claims on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal around May 2020. They are accused of providing fake letters claiming that the pandemic had affected their employment at a Boston restaurant. Each allegedly received over $43,000 in PUA and related funds.
If convicted, the charges carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone from the U.S. Department of Labor; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Thomas Demeo from the IRS Criminal Investigation office in Boston. The Weymouth Police Department also provided valuable assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman is prosecuting the case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations using a multi-agency approach.
In response to pandemic-related frauds, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021. It aims to enhance efforts to combat such frauds by coordinating with various government agencies.
Anyone with information about COVID-19 related fraud can report it via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or online form.
The allegations detailed in the charging documents are accusations only, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.