BOSTON – A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to use the stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico to fraudulently purchase vehicles and other goods and apply for and use bank accounts and credit cards.
Ricardo Acevedo, 34, of Manchester, NH, pleaded guilty on January 13, 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. Sentencing was scheduled for April 27, 2023 by US District Court Judge Patti B. Saris.
The defendant and multiple co-defendants were charged by criminal complaint in September 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020. In a coordinated multi-jurisdictional effort, the defendant was also charged in the State of New Jersey, and others who was meant. also in the scheme, in the District of New Jersey, in the Northern District of Ohio, and in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
According to charging documents, between October 2017 and January 2019, Acevedo visited Massachusetts car dealerships to purchase late model vehicles and applied for 100% financing. In support of the requests, Acevedo provided stolen biographical information of genuine United States citizens, fraudulent Puerto Rican driver’s licenses and Social Security cards in those identities, as proof of identity. Acevedo used the stolen identities to illegally open bank and credit card accounts and purchase vehicles, many of which were exported from the United States. In total, Acevedo used stolen identities to obtain car loans and purchase three cars totaling $90,582.
The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge imposes a sentence based on the US Sentencing Guidelines and the statutes governing sentencing in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. The Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Woburn and Dartmouth Police Departments provided assistance. Assistant US Attorneys Elianna Nuzum and Adam Deitch of the Rollins Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations Document Fraud and Benefits Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprised of personnel from various state, local and federal agencies with expertise in organizations and individuals involved in detect, deter and interfere with different types of situations. document, identity and benefit fraud schemes.
The particulars contained in the indictment are allegations. The other defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
