Former Lawrence Resident Pleads Guilty To Social Security Fraud

LAWRENCE, MA — A man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Boston to false representation of a social security number and making a false statement relating to health care matters.

Ronald Lara Pena, 35, a Dominican national previously residing in Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a social security number and one count of making a false statement relating to health care matters.

According to federal prosecutors, a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the court. Lara Pena was indicted in Sept. 2020.

Authorities said Lara Pena admitted to using the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses and identification cards. Lara Pena also used the victim’s identity to apply for and fraudulently receive over $12,600 in federally funded MassHealth benefits between Sept. 2015 and Sept. 2020.

The charge of false representation of a social security number carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.

The charge of false statement relating to health care matters carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.