A migrant, alleged to be residing illegally in the United States, has been charged with the theft of an identity, which was reportedly used for voting in the 2024 presidential election and acquiring federal benefits amounting to $400,000.
Reports from the Department of Justice indicate that Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, a 59-year-old Colombian residing in Boston, Massachusetts, for two decades, utilized the identity of a citizen of Puerto Rico. With this stolen identity, she is alleged to have applied for a U.S. passport, a Massachusetts Real ID, and eight other state IDs.
A news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, Leah B. Foley, stated, “For more than 20 years, this defendant is alleged to have built an entire life on the foundation of a stolen identity – including illegally voting in our presidential election and collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits intended for Americans in need.”
It appears that the fraud allegations aren’t merely about taking an identity and reaping financial benefits, but also encroaching upon the democratic processes, with the act of illegal voting. This raises important questions about the integrity of our systems and the need for stringent checks and balances.
Orovio-Hernandez has been indicted on multiple counts, including false representation of a Social Security number, making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport, and aggravated identity theft. She is also charged with receiving stolen government money or property, fraudulent voter registration, and fraudulent voting. She was previously indicted in February 2025 and has been in federal custody since then.
The evidence suggests that the federal benefits she allegedly collected include $259,589 in Section 8 rental assistance benefits, $101,257 in Social Security disability benefits, and $43,348 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Should she be found guilty and serve her sentence, Orovio-Hernandez would be subject to deportation.
