Randolph Dominguez, 57, from Lawrence, pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining over $200,000 in pandemic aid and Social Security benefits. He admitted to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. His sentencing is set for May 21, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In June 2020, Dominguez submitted a false application for financial aid under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, claiming his business earned $600,000, when it only made $16,989. He received $74,900 and spent it on personal expenses instead of business needs. Additionally, from 2001, after his father's death, Dominguez fraudulently collected about $163,642 in Social Security benefits by using his deceased father’s debit card, without notifying the authorities, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Dominguez faces serious penalties for his crimes: wire fraud could lead to up to 20 years in prison, and stealing government money could result in up to 10 years behind bars, along with fines and supervised release. The case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg, following an announcement by U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Special Agent Amy Connelly from the Social Security Administration. Dominguez's sentencing, which will be based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors, is set for later this year, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
