Erpawi Roque Collado, a 54-year-old lawful permanent resident originally from the Dominican Republic, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to fraudulently obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Collado admitted to stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico to collect $24,128 in SNAP benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance between December 2016 and May 2022.
U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy set Collado’s sentencing date for January 14, 2027. Collado was indicted on April 23, 2026, for these offenses.
The charge of unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits can result in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, the charge of theft of government money carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years, also with three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentences will be determined by the court in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
