Boston, MA — A Colombian national who lived in the United States under a stolen identity for more than two decades has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election and fraudulently collecting more than $400,000 in taxpayer-funded benefits, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 60, received a sentence of 33 months in prison from U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris and was ordered to pay $404,194 in restitution. Federal officials said she will be subject to deportation after completing her prison sentence.
The case centered on what prosecutors described as a decades-long scheme in which Orovio-Hernandez assumed the identity of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico, allowing her to obtain government-issued identification, public benefits, and eventually cast a ballot in a presidential election.
Voted in Presidential Election Under Stolen Identity
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to vote in the November 2024 presidential election in Boston. Later that same month, prosecutors said she applied for a U.S. passport using the fraudulent identity.
Federal investigators said she submitted a Massachusetts REAL ID and a Puerto Rico birth certificate obtained through fraudulent means while falsely claiming she was born in Puerto Rico.
In February 2026, a federal jury convicted Orovio-Hernandez on charges including fraudulent voting, aggravated identity theft, making a false statement in a passport application, false representation of a Social Security number, and receiving stolen government money or property.
More Than $400,000 in Taxpayer-Funded Benefits
Prosecutors said the defendant improperly received benefits from multiple federal programs over many years by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
According to court records, she received:
- Approximately $259,589 in Section 8 housing assistance between 2011 and 2025.
- Approximately $101,257 in Supplemental Security Income disability benefits between 2014 and 2025.
- Approximately $43,348 in SNAP benefits between 2005 and 2025.
Federal authorities said the total amount of fraudulently obtained benefits exceeded $404,000.
Key Points
• Colombian national sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
• Prosecutors say she voted in the 2024 presidential election using a stolen identity.
• More than $400,000 in federal benefits were fraudulently obtained over two decades.
Lived Under Stolen Identity for More Than 20 Years
Investigators said Orovio-Hernandez used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico for more than two decades.
Between 2004 and 2024, she obtained nine Massachusetts identification documents, including driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, and a Massachusetts REAL ID, by repeatedly presenting fraudulent identity documents.
Federal officials said she also petitioned a Puerto Rico court for a late-registered birth certificate under the stolen identity and ultimately obtained the document in 2022.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said the defendant exploited government systems and taxpayer-funded programs for years.
“For more than two decades, this defendant treated the identity of an American citizen as a personal entitlement — exploiting it to enrich herself, evade the law and access government programs and privileges reserved for lawful residents and citizens of this country,” Foley said.
Federal investigators from the Diplomatic Security Service, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General all participated in the investigation.
Deportation Expected After Prison Sentence
Orovio-Hernandez has remained in federal custody since being indicted in February 2025. Following her prison term, she faces removal from the United States.
Federal officials said the case highlights efforts to prosecute identity theft, voter fraud, and the misuse of public assistance programs.
The defendant remains in federal custody and is expected to be deported upon completion of her 33-month prison sentence.
