Brockton Man Pleads To Wire Fraud In Pandemic Fund Conspiracy: Feds

BOSTON, MA — A Brockton man pleaded guilty Tuesday to submitting fraudulent information in an effort to obtain unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Nelson Roche Diaz, 29, pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, the U.S. attorney's Office said in a media release.

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Roche Diaz was indicted along with co-conspirator Dominik Manigo of Weymouth in January, according to the release.

"In May 2020, (the two men) submitted fraudulent claims for (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal," the release said.

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Roche Diaz and Manigo also "submitted fraudulent letters claiming the pandemic had impacted their employment at a restaurant in Boston. Neither Roche nor Manigo ever worked at the restaurant," the release said.

The two men each received over $43,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and related funds, according to the release.

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Manigo pleaded guilty in July and is scheduled to be sentenced in November, the release said, and Roche Diaz's sentencing was scheduled for January. They both face up to 20 years in prison.

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