A Hartford resident, Ricardo Santiago, has admitted to committing fraud in a scheme involving Social Security, unemployment, and food stamp benefits. Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Marc H. Silverman, announced that Santiago pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford.
Court documents reveal that between 2002 and 2024, Santiago worked with over 20 employers and earned more than $580,000. He concealed this income from government agencies by using false identification and Social Security numbers belonging to others.
In 2002, Santiago applied for Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits claiming disability and began receiving payments in September of that year. By maintaining his claim of disability in subsequent years, he collected over $316,000 in RSDI payments fraudulently.
Santiago also applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in February 2017 without disclosing his income. From March 2017 onward, he made purchases exceeding $18,000 using SNAP benefits he was not entitled to receive.
In April 2020, Santiago filed for Unemployment Insurance benefits with the Connecticut Department of Labor using another individual's Social Security number. He falsely claimed unemployment status and received over $36,000 from April 2020 through February 2021.
Santiago has agreed to pay restitution totaling $371,686 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud—a charge carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. He is currently out on a $25,000 bond awaiting sentencing on May 22.
The investigation involved several federal offices including the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont is prosecuting the case.