Colombian Woman Charged with Voting Illegally and Fraudulent Benefits
A Colombian woman, who has lived in Boston for two decades using a stolen identity, has been charged with voting in the 2024 election and receiving over $400,000 in federal benefits, according to federal prosecutors this week.
Lina Maria Orovio Hernandez, 59, allegedly applied for a U.S. passport and obtained her real Massachusetts ID along with eight other state IDs. Authorities claim that she used the passport to falsely assert that she was a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico.
After registering to vote in 2023, Orovio-Hernandez was seen on surveillance cameras at a bank sporting an “I voted” sticker on Election Day, November 5, 2024, as reported.
A statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Massachusetts area included details about the charges against her:
Orovio Hernandez faces multiple charges: one count of misrepresenting her Social Security number, one count of making a false statement in a U.S. passport application, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of receiving stolen government money, one count of fraudulent voter registration, and one count of fraudulent voting.
She had previously faced accusations of stealing housing benefits, and prosecutors have kept her in federal custody since February.
With a total of eight charges, the updated indictment disclosed the details of the fraudulent funds she received.
Additionally, it is reported that Orovio-Hernandez unlawfully collected $259,589 in Section 8 rental assistance from October 2011 to January 2025, $101,257 in Social Security Disability benefits from July 2014 to January 2025, and $43,348 from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program between April 2005 and January 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Orovio-Hernandez could face a fine of $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
“These suspicious crimes are a shame for all individuals who undermine programs designed to support vulnerable members of society,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “U.S. law enforcement will pursue those who misuse the system and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
