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Press Release

Press Release  Worcester Man Indicted on Identity Theft and Covid-Relief Fraud

A Dominican national lawfully residing in Worcester has been indicted on five counts of theft of government money and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
For immediate release:
12/19/2025
  • Office of the Inspector General

Media Contact

Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer

Phone

Call Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer at 617-722-8894

Online

Email Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer at carrie.c.kimball@mass.gov

Worcester, MA — The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Dominican national lawfully residing in Worcester has been indicted on charges related to Covid-relief fraud.

Felix Mercedes-Castillo, 35, was indicted on five counts of theft of government money and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is currently serving a state prison sentence for unrelated offenses and will appear in federal court in Worcester at a later date. 

The indictments allege that the defendant used other peoples’ identities – including a deceased individual – to fraudulently obtain $137,100 in emergency rental assistance funds intended to provide housing assistance for individuals unable to pay rent due to financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

For more information, see the U.S. Attorney's Office press release.

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Media Contact

Phone

Call Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer at 617-722-8894

Online

Email Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer at carrie.c.kimball@mass.gov

  • Office of the Inspector General 

    The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is an independent, non-partisan oversight agency mandated to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse of public resources at the state and municipal level across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We serve the residents of Massachusetts, state and local governments, and those who work with the government.

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