CITY, State (Fox News) — Two Venezuelan citizens were among four individuals who used 115 stolen identities in a $1 million food stamps and pandemic unemployment fraud scheme, as revealed by the Justice Department.

## Key Facts:
The defendants were identified as Joel Vicioso Fernandez, Raul Fernandez Vicioso, Roman Vequiz Fernandez, and Coralba Albarracin Siniva. They used the stolen identities to obtain SNAP benefits in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as pandemic unemployment benefits in multiple states.

Raul Fernandez Vicioso and Joel Vicioso Fernandez created fraudulent SNAP benefit accounts and used them to stock their restaurant, El Primo, by making bulk purchases of food items. They also wired fraud proceeds to individuals in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

Between April 2020 and December 2021, the defendants collected $700,000 through fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications. They used the address of El Primo Restaurant in the applications and deposited the benefits into bank accounts held by themselves and co-conspirators.

During searches of Raul Fernandez Vicioso’s home and the restaurant, investigators found fraudulently obtained EBT cards, fraudulent documents, printed ledgers, handwritten lists of identities, and SNAP-related mailings.

The four defendants face charges related to conspiracy to use SNAP benefits, wire fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting.

## Image Captions:
1. Raul Fernandez Vicioso shopping for food with fraudulently obtained EBT benefits (Justice Department)
2. An EBT sign displayed on a grocery store window in New York City (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)