Providence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Acquisition of SNAP Benefits, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

PROVIDENCE, RI - A Dominican national unlawfully present in the United States and living in Providence was sentenced today to two years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that defrauded the United States Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of more than $213,000 in benefits, and for illegally possessing a firearm at the time of his arrest, announced United States Attorney Zachary Cunha.

Giomar Lopez Meireles, 41, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, illegal acquisition or use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. At the government's request, the court also ordered the defendant to pay restitution in the amount of $213,397 to the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, which administers federal SNAP benefits in Rhode Island.

Lopez Meireles previously admitted to a federal judge that he conspired with others to submit fraudulent online applications for SNAP benefits in the form of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. As part of the scheme, the group used the real identities and social security numbers of third parties to submit fraudulent benefit applications . The ill-gotten, government funded, benefit cards were then either mailed to Lopez Meireles's own residence or to a nearby addresses. The defendant sold some of these cards for cash while using some of the cards to make purchases for himself and others. He also sent some of the cash he received from selling the EBT cards to individuals in the Dominican Republic who were involved in the scheme.

During a court-authorized search of Lopez Meireles's residence in October 2023, law enforcement seized a collection of fraudulently obtained EBT cards, many of which were wrapped in a paper ledger listing dollar amounts and PINs. Also seized was a 9mm pistol located in Lopez Meireles's bedroom closet, wrapped in clothing.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julianne Klein.

This matter was investigated the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General and the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit - Fraud Detection & Prevention Unit. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, and Woonsocket Police Department.