Hartford man pleads guilty to using fake social security number to obtain unemployment, SNAP benefits for over 20 years

Yahoo News ^ | Juliana Lepore Mon, February 24, 2025

[11th_VA]

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A Hartford man pleaded guilty on Monday to fraudulently obtaining Social Security, unemployment and food stamp benefits, according to the Department of Justice.

Ricardo Santiago, 59, allegedly started using another persons social security card and a false social security card to obtain benefits in September 2002. In 2017, he applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, claiming that he earned no income from employment.

In April 2020, he applied for unemployment insurance benefits using a social security number that belonged to someone else.

He agreed to pay a restitution of $371,686 and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22.

[11th_VA]

He agreed to pay a restitution of $371,686

Right, $1 per year ?

[riverrunner]

The country will only see a faction of what he took

[Palio di Siena]

Global warming will bail him out

[Palio di Siena]

Global warming will bail him out

[EvilCapitalist]

Bring back chain gangs, he can repay by cleaning highways.

[Ann Archy]

USAID MONEY?

[b4me]

did not read article but I wonder citizenship status? how long?

he should have to pay back in full, if he can’t he should have to work it off somehow comparable to full amount he stole.

[clutzyfuzzy]

One down, thousands more to go

[A_perfect_lady]

I wonder what happens to the person whose benefits he took?

[Wallace T.]

Typical of government prosecution. Go after some penny ante fraud who stole thousands while those who stole billions roam freely. Can you think of any bank president or chairman who went to jail after the 2008 real estate collapse? Not that Santiago didn't deserve his sentence but until Pam Bondi indicts big names that are arrested by Kash Patel's FBI, I will be skeptical about the fairness of American justice.

[Phoenix8]

But Jorge Bush said they only come over here to work.

This is what he said arguing against Trump in 2018: “ “We ought to say thank you and welcome them.”

[shelterguy]

“”I wonder what happens to the person whose benefits he took?”””

Unemployment fraud is huge. We are no longer people, only numbers. Nobody ever goes into the unemployment office, it is all done online. Checks aren’t sent, it’s all direct deposit or occasionally debit cards. The theft is massive and often organized. It is seldom reported because some special status people might be offended and it is racist .

[quantim]

My first thought too, if he is an illegal than paying for his incarceration until he croaks is not prudent either. But then being fresh meat for Bubba in a nasty prison is almost worth it.

[MtnClimber]

I hope Elon looks into BHO’s stolen SSN.

[NorthMountain]

More details here:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/hartford-man-admits-fraudulently-collecting-social-security-unemployment-and-food-stamp

During the 22 years he was committing fraud, he:

1) earned $580,000 working various jobs
2) fraudulently obtained Approximately $371,000

Dude was not living large ... He’d be better off today had he gotten a slightly better job or jobs instead of scamming the government.

[Zathras]

One of millions.
It is common knowledge that there are people out there who know exactly how to scam the system.

[Professional]

And more importantly, they teach each other how to rip off stupid Americans

[cgbg]

That is why hard labor is the way to punish these particular types of crimes.

Let them pay it back in sweat and tears.

[Shady]

You are spot on the money (pun intended..) It was heinous during COVID, and intentional.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Well thank God he's the only one doing this. We know he's the only one otherwise people wouldn't be getting so mad at Elon for trying to expose more fraud.