Illegal Immigrant Indicted for Voting, Stealing $400K in US Benefits

Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, a Colombian national residing in Boston, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury for living in the U.S. illegally for over 20 years under a stolen identity and fraudulently collecting approximately $400,000 in government benefits, including rental assistance, Social Security disability, and food stamps. Prosecutors allege she used the stolen identity to obtain multiple state IDs, including a Massachusetts Real ID, and even applied for a U.S. passport. She was registered to vote since January 2023 and illegally cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election, actions U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley condemned as undermining the rights and systems designed for lawful residents and citizens. The case highlights the challenges in detecting illegal voting and identity fraud, particularly when authentic citizen identities are used, a tactic common among some illegal immigrants. This prosecution is part of a series of efforts to address illegal voting and benefit fraud by noncitizens, drawing attention to gaps in identification and voting verification systems. The indictment includes multiple charges such as fraudulent voter registration, illegal voting, false Social Security representation, and aggravated identity theft.