Raul Fernandez Vicioso, 37, a Fitchburg resident who runs El Primo restaurant in Leominster, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Boston to a slate of charges tied to a multistate benefits fraud investigation. Prosecutors say the scheme funneled stolen SNAP and pandemic unemployment benefits into bulk food purchases and accounts used to supply and run the restaurant. Vicioso is due back in federal court this summer for sentencing, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Federal prosecutors first laid out the case in a February filing that charged Vicioso with conspiracy to commit SNAP benefit fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, SNAP benefit fraud, aiding and abetting, and money laundering, and said investigators tied the operation to more than 100 stolen identities and over $1 million in SNAP and PUA benefits. The filings say roughly $325,000 in SNAP benefits were taken from Rhode Island and about $115,000 from Massachusetts, with more than $700,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance obtained across several states. Prosecutors also highlighted that the wire fraud and money laundering counts each carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years, while the SNAP counts carry penalties of up to five years, along with potential forfeiture and restitution under federal law, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Vicioso entered his plea on March 25, and local reporting says U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman has scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2026. As the Boston Herald reports, the plea marks the latest chapter in a probe that federal investigators say stretched across New England and beyond as they tracked suspicious online benefit applications back to a handful of storefronts and addresses.
How Prosecutors Say The Scheme Worked
According to court filings, investigators found handwritten ledgers listing scores of names, dozens of fraudulently obtained EBT cards, and counterfeit identity documents linked to the operation. Surveillance and transaction records showed large bulk purchases at wholesalers and supermarkets that were then brought to El Primo for use or resale. The filings say conspirators removed printed names from some EBT cards, standardized PINs, and used restaurant membership accounts or prepaid cards to make high dollar purchases. Portions of the proceeds were then wired to recipients in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, as detailed in the charging documents filed with the court.
Co-defendants And Local Fallout
Prosecutors charged three others alongside Vicioso: Joel Vicioso Fernandez, Roman Vequiz Fernandez, and Coralba Albarracin Siniva. Investigators believe some employees at the restaurant helped carry out parts of the scheme. Local outlets and the U.S. Attorney’s Office say the alleged fraud first surfaced in Rhode Island and was traced back to more than 100 victim identities, with investigators recovering EBT cards, counterfeit IDs, and transaction records during searches in the Leominster area, details that were also reported by WCVB.
Next Steps And What To Watch
With a guilty plea now on the books, sentencing will center on the scale of the losses and any restitution or forfeiture the government seeks. Prosecutors have signaled that the office will continue to target benefits fraud. The broader investigation underscores how online application systems and stolen personally identifiable information can be exploited, prompting state and federal agencies to pursue both criminal charges and program safeguards, context reported in part by NBC Boston. Members of the public who suspect SNAP trafficking or benefits fraud are encouraged to contact state program offices and the USDA Office of Inspector General to report tips.
