MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – A 69-year-old Bradenton woman will spend over a year behind bars after federal officials uncovered a sprawling identity and benefits fraud scheme that spanned multiple government agencies.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Rosario Alaniz, to 15 months in federal prison. In addition to her prison term, Doe was ordered to pay back $184,904.75 in restitution.
The sentencing follows a guilty plea entered in December 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the final judgment, which concludes a complex investigation into how Doe managed to secure a United States passport and various government benefits under a fraudulent identity.
Court records reveal that Alaniz’s scheme involved several different federal programs. She successfully applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through the Department of Agriculture and tapped into Social Security Administration disability insurance.
Prosecutors stated that Alaniz failed to disclose her actual employment status, allowing her to collect payments she wasn’t entitled to or receive amounts far higher than the legal limit. By the time the fraud was detected, the total cost to taxpayers reached nearly $185,000.
The case required a coordinated effort from several heavy-hitting federal watchdogs.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service led the investigation alongside the Offices of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, with additional support from Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel headed the prosecution, while the legal process to seize and recover the stolen funds is being managed by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
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