Feds Bust Worcester Man In Identity Theft Case

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2017/08/09/feds-bust-worcester-man-in-identity-theft-case/

WORCESTER — A week after federal agents busted up an alleged illegal-alien-driven identity fraud ring operating out of a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles office, Justice Department officials charged a Worcester man with identity theft — in addition making death threats to his victim.

Jose Agosto, who officials list as being born in 1960, was arraigned on charges related to Social Security fraud Wednesday afternoon in Worcester U.S. District Court.

An unsealed criminal complaint obtained by New Boston Post sheds more light on the allegations, which apparently involve a “a scheme to defraud that involved the transmission of interstate wires.”

A signed affidavit completed by Social Security Administration Special Agent Kyle Zagraggen alleges that Agosto has been using his victim’s identity since at least August 2000 and successfully managed to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses, various other state-issued identification documents, and replacement Social Security cards.

Agosto also used his cell phone to call the victim and make death threats, according to the affidavit. Additionally, Agosto stands accused of using his victim’s name to receive treatment at a Massachusetts hospital.

“Certain such treatment has been billed to Medicare, despite the fact that Agosto is not a Medicare beneficiary,” the affidavit notes, while also pointing out the likelihood that the processing of Agosta’s claim “involved interstate wires.”

Zagraggen’s affidavit does not clarify whether or not Agosto is living in the United States legally.

Court documents state that Agosto also opened several bank accounts in his victim’s name, which later were subjected to overdrafts and loan applications, in addition to various savings accounts he opened in the name of his victim’s mother and half-sister.

The addresses listed came back to 135 Constitution Avenue in Worcester, home to the city’s Great Brook Valley public housing complex, which Zagraggen identified as Agosto’s former address.

“Agosto used this address in numerous ways, as the address on his 2016 Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (“RMV”) application (in the name of the victim), and as his address with the U.S. Postal Service (in the name of the victim),” Zagraggen wrote.

Agosto allegedly used the stolen identity in March to register a car.

According the affidavit, Agosto was apparently evicted from his Great Brook Valley address at the beginning of the month and used a storage center in Shrewsbury to stow his belongings.

Court records show that a U.S. magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for Agosto on Tuesday. A detention hearing for Agosto is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Read the affidavit:

2017-08-09 USA v Agosto by Evan on Scribd