A Lawrence man, Randolph Dominguez, has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining and misusing COVID-19 relief funds, as well as stealing Social Security benefits totaling over $200,000. The guilty plea includes one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 21, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris.
In June 2020, Dominguez submitted a loan application for his interpreter business, Dominguez SP Interpreters, to the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The program aimed to provide financial assistance to small businesses that suffered economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Dominguez fraudulently obtained $74,900 in EIDL funds from the SBA in July 2020. He falsely claimed on his application that his gross business revenue the previous year was $600,000, when it was actually only $16,989. Furthermore, Dominguez misappropriated all of the EIDL funds for non-business expenses.
In addition to the fraudulent activities related to the COVID-19 relief funds, Dominguez also stole approximately $163,642 in Social Security benefits from April 2001 through April 2023. The theft occurred because Dominguez’s father, who was receiving Social Security benefits, passed away in March 2001, but his death was never reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). As a result, the SSA continued to pay monthly benefits on his behalf. Dominguez took advantage of this situation by using his deceased father’s debit card to withdraw the improperly paid benefits from ATMs and make purchases, even though more than 22 years had passed since his father’s death.
The penalty for wire fraud is a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is higher. Similarly, the punishment for theft of government money includes a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. These sentences are determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit.