Two Massachusetts men find themselves on the wrong side of the law, facing serious charges for their alleged involvement in a COVID-19 unemployment and loan fraud scheme. 25-year-old Dominik Manigo of Weymouth and 28-year-old Nelson Roche Diaz of Brockton were indicted on counts of wire fraud conspiracy and each on one count of wire fraud after a federal grand jury's decision. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the pair made their initial federal court appearance in Boston this past Monday.
Allegedly, back in May 2020, these two individuals submitted fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal. The indictment details that Manigo and Roche also submitted bogus letters claiming the pandemic had affected their employment at a restaurant in Boston, a narrative crafted to siphon funds under the guise of the economic hardship. The deception paid off, at least temporarily, as they each received over $43,000 in PUA and related funds.
If convicted of the charges, which includes wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, Manigo and Roche could be looking at up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines that could swell up to $250,000. It's important to emphasize that these sentences would be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines alongside other statutory considerations.
The multi-agency effort to bring them to justice was proudly announced by several officials, including United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, among other enforcement leaders, credited the collaborative work for the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is handling prosecution duties for this case.
As part of a broader initiative to crack down on fraudulent activities linked to the pandemic, this case falls under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, also touting the establishment of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force by the Attorney General back in 2021. The task force’s mission is cut clear: to combat pandemic-related fraud and support integrity in administration of relief programs. Tips regarding COVID-19 fraud aren’t just welcomed, but there're actively solicited—concerned citizens can make reports by reaching out to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline.
It's worth noting, in fairness to the accused, that the details contained within the charging documents remain just allegations. The presumption of innocence abides until, and unless, Manigo and Roche are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
