Assistant Attorney General for @DOJFraudDiv under the leadership of @AGToddBlanche and @POTUS Trump 🇺🇸
Washington, D.C.
Joined June 2026
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This defendant allegedly submitted 20-plus fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $7.5M in COVID-relief funds.
She has now been indicted on multiple felony charges.
@USAO_MD @FBIBaltimore @SBAOIG
A Maryland woman is facing indictment stemming from submitting fraudulent applications for millions of dollars in federal loans.
Kara DiPietro, 49, of Towson, is charged with bank fraud in connection with fraudulent applications that she allegedly filed to obtain Paycheck Protection Program loans in the names of multiple businesses.
Announced with @FBIBaltimore @SBAOIG
Learn more at justice.gov/usao-md/pr/balti….
ALT Brown gavel with the word Indicted in yellowish-gold, all-caps text.
$18M Medicare Fraud Scheme — Trial Conviction
đź“ŤA federal jury in Maryland convicted a laboratory owner yesterday for taking advantage of nursing homes that needed COVID-19 tests during the pandemic and fraudulently billing Medicare more than $18 million for testing that nursing home residents did not need, physicians did not order, and, in many cases, were never performed.
đź“ŤThe defendant used the proceeds from his fraud scheme to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing, among other things, a $112,500 Porsche 911, and making $25,000 monthly mortgage payments on his Annapolis waterfront mansion (pictured below).
This result was achieved due to the dedicated service of prosecutors from @DOJFraudDiv/@USAO_MD and agents from @FBI/@OIGatHHS.
Maryland Man Convicted of $18.7M Medicare Fraud for Respiratory Testing Scheme Targeting Nursing Homes
🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/maryland-…
Vidal Blanco-Blas is an illegal alien. Four decades ago, he illegally entered the United States using the stolen identity of a deceased U.S. citizen infant.
Once in the U.S, Blanco-Blas used the infant’s identity to illegally obtain an SSN, State of Texas driver’s license, voter registration card, and U.S. passport.Â
During his time pretending to be a U.S. citizen, Blanco-Blas committed serious drug trafficking crimes in America, with multiple lengthy prior prison sentences.Â
A jury has now convicted Blanco-Blas of more crimes—this time stealing the identity of the deceased U.S. citizen and fraudulently obtaining a U.S. passport.
He faces 12 years in prison at sentencing, which is scheduled for March.
Excellent work by @NDTXnews, @StateDeptDSS and other partners to uncover and prosecute this scheme.
Illegal alien convicted after using stolen identity of deceased American infant for more than 4 decades
@USAttyRaybould @StateDeptDSS
justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/ill…
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
.@VP on fraud in the SNAP program: "Unfortunately, like with so many of these other programs, we find that there are people out there who decide to commit fraud against these programs, who quite literally in this case will steal from the mouths of hungry children in order to enrich themselves. That cannot go on and thanks to President Trump’s leadership we are fighting and winning the war against fraud in the SNAP program."
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
.@AAGMcDonald on suspected illegal aliens stealing benefits from American citizens: “Guzman stole the identity of a United States citizen to fraudulently obtain $22,000 in SNAP benefits, $98,000 in Medicaid benefits, and $45,000 in Section 8 housing benefits.”
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
🇺🇸 “The American Dream is not for sale”
ICYMI: Federal charges were unsealed today against six individuals in connection with a large-scale marriage fraud ring operating in Massachusetts for more than a decade.
According to court documents, the alleged ringleader earned millions of dollars arranging sham marriages between illegal aliens and U.S. citizens, charging up to $40,000 per marriage to fraudulently obtain immigration status.
The operation allegedly arranged 18–20 sham marriages annually, using staged wedding photographs and fraudulent documentation to deceive immigration authorities.
During the investigation, the alleged ringleader was recorded describing Massachusetts as a “sanctuary” and telling a customer, “Massachusetts is the best place for you to be.”
🎥 WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: youtu.be/9SptALGXCVk?si=ckwo…
🔗 READ PRESS RELEASE: justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/six-c…
![Alt Text: “What an affront the alleged conduct revealed here today must be to those who play by the rules. To see a for profit business whose sole purpose is helping people cheat and skip the line by simply paying for it – must be so offensive and disheartening to those who follow our country’s laws […] My hope is that today – the charged defendants and others like them – realize that the American Dream is not for sale….it is earned. And when you try to pilfer it for profit, we will hold you accountable.” – U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HVLbd4CWsAEis3q.jpg?name=orig)
ALT Alt Text: “What an affront the alleged conduct revealed here today must be to those who play by the rules. To see a for profit business whose sole purpose is helping people cheat and skip the line by simply paying for it – must be so offensive and disheartening to those who follow our country’s laws […] My hope is that today – the charged defendants and others like them – realize that the American Dream is not for sale….it is earned. And when you try to pilfer it for profit, we will hold you accountable.” – U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins DOJ Fraud Division and USDA in Uncovering Nearly $42 Million in SNAP Benefit Fraud in Nationwide Enforcement Surge
PRESS RELEASE đź”—:
justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/202…
A great day for all Americans—minus the fraudsters. 🇺🇸
What a day to be an American! Thank you to @VP Vance, @AGToddBlanche, @AFergusonFTC, @AAGMcDonald, @NDGAnews U.S. Attorney Teddy Hertzberg, @OIGUSDA John Walk, and @WHFraudTF for coming out to Cincinnati to highlight the important work our prosecutors and agents are doing to combat SNAP fraud across the country. The fight continues.🇺🇸
BREAKING: Ian Jackson, a two-time convicted felon, was sentenced to 10 years & 10 months in prison today for a scheme to steal over $3M in pandemic relief funds.
Jackson spent the fraud proceeds on personal expenses, including restaurant dining, spa services, phone and credit card bills, and travel to Aruba.Â
He will now spend over a decade behind bars.
Great work by @DOJFraudDiv & @NDGAnews prosecutors, plus the agents at @FBI & @SBAOIG.
🔗justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/con…
🚨Health Care Fraud Indictment
Based on the allegations in this indictment, these defendants caused the fraudulent submission of $19M in health care claims for nonexistent psychotherapy services.
That allegedly resulted in $4.8M in fraudulent payments being made.
Six defendants are now indicted and will answer these allegations in federal court.
Great work by @NDILnews and partners.
Owner of Suburban Chicago Counseling Center and Five Others Indicted for Alleged $19 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme @FBIChicago @DOLOIG @USDOL
justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/own…
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
8 defendants charged in multimillion-dollar fraud scheme: ​“Bad actors are increasingly seeking to abuse technology platforms—here social media platforms—to commit fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald
justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/eig…
Ivan Odiaga was sentenced today to 38 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,052,378 in restitution for conspiring to defraud the United States.
Between 2017 and 2021, Odiaga and his mother prepared false tax returns filed with the IRS seeking more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive.
At times, Odiaga and his mother also diverted portions of client tax refunds to themselves. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled.
Great work to protect taxpayer dollars by @DOJFraudDiv, @USAO_NV, & @IRS_CI.
A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to prison in $5M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme: justice.gov/opa/pr/las-vegas…
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
"We will work tirelessly to help recover what has been stolen and dismantle the criminal networks that prey on our people."
No administration has taken on cybercrime syndicates that terrorize the American people like the Trump administration. The scams must end.
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
Under President Trump’s leadership, the FBI is going on OFFENSE against cyber criminals targeting the American people.
Through Operation Blackout - this FBI’s global scam center demolition campaign:
20+ scam compounds DEMOLISHED. $17 BILLION+ seized. 11,000 Americans protected from $675 MILLION in fraud.
Cybercriminals no longer have sanctuary no matter where they try to hide - we’re finding them and we’re getting them.
-DKP🇺🇸
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
.@AGToddBlanche at @POTUS's roundtable on cybercrime: "Because of the magnitude of this issue, it demands a nationwide response. We have evolved from delegating these cases to single U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to leveraging our newly established cyber-enabled scam initiative, which is led by @DOJCrimDiv and deploys dozens of prosecutors across all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to continue driving prosecutions and helping victims."
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
.@POTUS: We've prevented $1.6B in losses — at least — this year, frozen nearly $1B of cybercurrency tied to foreign scammers, shut down 500+ fraudulent websites, and coordinated to disrupt millions of online accounts associated with foreign criminals.
.@POTUS: For years, our nation has faced a growing menace of cybercrime perpetrated by fraudsters, hackers, and scammers who try to steal Americans' money, prey on senior citizens, and exploit children through fraud, ransomware, impersonation schemes, and other illegal acts.
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
As part of the @WHFraudTF, ICE is targeting fraudsters across the country who exploit taxpayer-funded programs.
A Dominican national was charged with stealing a U.S. citizen’s identity to obtain SNAP, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing benefits.
Illegal aliens have exploited programs meant for Americans for far too long. Those days are coming to an end.
We are activating the full tools of justice to bring accountability to those stealing from these programs and the American taxpayer.
.@AAGMcDonald: "These cases and allegations reveal the scope of deception, greed, and human exploitation permeating SNAP fraud schemes. These are not paperwork crimes. The tools of justice must be, and are, fully activated to protect the innocent, provide for our most vulnerable, punish the wrongdoer, and restore the public’s confidence that those who engage in fraud will indeed be brought to justice."
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
“The human cost of these fraud schemes is measured not in spreadsheets, but in the panic of a mother whose card is declined and the hunger her children endure because someone hijacked their benefits,” said @AAGMcDonald. “These schemes inflict real harm on real American families, and they erode the trust taxpayers place in programs designed to keep Americans fed. That is why the Fraud Division is acting with urgency, not just to prosecute fraud, but to protect the people who depend on these lifelines.”
.@DOJFraudDiv, @USDA, and USDA OIG Uncover Nearly $42M in SNAP Benefit Fraud in Nationwide Enforcement Surge Involving Suspected Illegal Aliens: 13 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Utah Attorney General’s Office join federal partners in actions against more than 40 alleged fraudsters
“These schemes siphoned millions from taxpayers and robbed struggling Americans of the benefits they depend on so fraudsters could use them for their own selfish purposes,” said @AGToddBlanche. “Through our partnership with the Department of Agriculture, this nationwide surge exposed and disrupted criminal networks that targeted vulnerable American families. The Department of Justice will continue working to root out fraud in every federal agency and program.”
Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/dojs-frau…
ALT DOJ’s Fraud Division, Department of Agriculture, and USDA OIG Uncover Nearly $42M in SNAP Benefit Fraud in Nationwide Enforcement Surge Involving Suspected Illegal Aliens
ALT DOJ’s Fraud Division, Department of Agriculture, and USDA OIG Uncover Nearly $42M in SNAP Benefit Fraud in Nationwide Enforcement Surge Involving Suspected Illegal Aliens
Colin M. McDonald retweeted
.@AAGMcDonald in Ohio with @VP on SNAP Fraud: "There is no more noble or compassionate taxpayer-funded program than those provided by @USDA: food for hungry children and relief for moms and dads struggling to put dinner on the table tonight. If ever a fraudster might say, 'Those dollars do too much good. They protect too many vulnerable kids and parents. These dollars are too noble for me to take,' it would be SNAP. But there is no program too noble for a fraudster. They will take whatever they can, no matter the financial cost or the human toll."