PROVIDENCE, RI – Giomar Lopez Meireles, a 41-year-old Dominican national residing in Providence, admitted in federal court today to his involvement in a scheme defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of over $213,000. United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha also confirmed that at the time of his arrest, Meireles unlawfully possessed a firearm.
Pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, and unlawful possession of a firearm, Meireles is set for sentencing on September 4, 2024. The sentences will be determined by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The court was informed that Meireles and his co-conspirators used stolen identities and social security numbers to file fraudulent applications for SNAP benefits, resulting in the issuance of EBT cards. These cards were primarily sent to Meireles’s residence or to addresses close by. Meireles either utilized these cards for personal purchases, sold them for cash, or distributed them to others.
The fraudulent activity, spanning from September 2021 to November 2023, was exposed following a court-authorized search of Meireles’s home. The search led to the discovery of multiple EBT cards alongside a paper ledger detailing the amounts and PINs associated with each card. Law enforcement also seized a 9mm pistol hidden within clothing in his bedroom closet.
This case highlights significant abuses of a federally funded program designed to assist those in need and underscores the ongoing efforts by authorities to crack down on public assistance fraud.
