Dominican national pleads guilty to 20 years of benefits fraud in Massachusetts

A Dominican man unlawfully residing in Dorchester pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to unlawfully obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and making false statements related to healthcare matters.

The man, Danis Piron Lara, 51, used the identity of an American citizen from Puerto Rico to obtain various Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles identifications and access benefits starting in 2005.

He received $57,289.26 in MassHealth benefits under the stolen identity during multiple years between 2005 and 2026, and $15,186 in SNAP benefits between April 2021 and March 2026.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2026, before U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor. Potential penalties include up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for the SNAP benefits fraud charge, and up to five years in prison and fines for the false statements charge.

The case is part of a broader crackdown on benefit fraud in Massachusetts, with a new Benefit & Voter Fraud Team established by the U.S. Attorney's office in March 2026.