A Colombian woman, illegally residing in Massachusetts, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges, including allegedly voting in the 2024 presidential election, living under a stolen identity for over two decades, and improperly receiving more than $400,000 in federal benefits.
Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 59, was charged with one count of false representation of a Social Security number, one count of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of receiving stolen government money or property, one count of fraudulent voter registration, and one count of fraudulent voting.
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She was previously indicted in February 2025 and has remained in federal custody since that time.
According to court filings, Orovio-Hernandez allegedly maintained a life based on a stolen identity for more than 20 years. Authorities claim that using this stolen identity, she obtained nine state IDs, including a Massachusetts Real ID, and applied for a U.S. passport.
The indictment further alleges that Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to submit a fraudulent voter registration in January 2023 and subsequently cast a fraudulent ballot in the November 2024 presidential election.
Prosecutors also state that Orovio-Hernandez received approximately $400,000 in federal benefits. This includes an estimated $259,589 in Section 8 rental assistance benefits from October 2011 through January 2025; $101,257 in Social Security disability benefits from July 2014 through January 2025; and $43,348 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from April 2005 through January 2025.
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“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,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The right to vote is one of the many privileges of being a U.S. citizen. Government funded programs for those in need are intended to be safety nets for those living in our country lawfully – not support an illegal alien without a right to be here. Ms. Orovio-Hernandez was entitled to none of these privileges as a Colombian citizen who was unlawfully in this country. The alleged crimes are an affront to every individual who plays by the rules and undermines many of the programs meant to support the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Multiple agencies are involved in the investigation. “The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to protecting the integrity of the U.S. passport,” said Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Boston Field Office.
Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Boston-New York Field Division, stated, “Stealing someone’s identity to unlawfully obtain Social Security benefits is not just theft—it’s a long-term abuse of a system meant to support those truly in need.”
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“Orovio-Hernandez allegedly spent two decades living under a stolen identity while simultaneously orchestrating a sophisticated multi-agency fraud scheme, misappropriating over $400,000 in federal benefits—funded by taxpayers—including Section 8 rental assistance funds,” commented Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The charges carry significant potential penalties. False representation of a Social Security number can result in up to five years in prison. Making a false statement in a passport application carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years.
Aggravated identity theft has a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively with any other sentence. Receiving stolen government property can lead to up to 10 years in prison. Fraudulent voter registration and fraudulent voting each carry sentences of up to five years in prison. All charges also include potential supervised release and fines. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any imposed sentence.
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