New Bedford couple indicted for pandemic unemployment benefits fraud boston.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from boston.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A former employee with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and her husband were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly inventing seven children and a six-figure income in order to jack up the pandemic aid they'd receive.
New Bedford Pair Charged With Federal Unemployment Fraud
A married man and woman from New Bedford were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Boston on fraud charges arising from their claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds.
Tiffany Pacheco, 35, and Arthur Pacheco, 47, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tiffany Pacheco also faces five counts of wire fraud and Arthur Pacheco two counts. The defendants until recently resided in New Bedford, according to a news release from the Office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. The two were arrested in San Antonio, Texas in December and have been detained ever since.
Tiffany Pacheco, former Massachusetts state employee, accused of filing fraudulent unemployment assistance claims during pandemic with husband
Updated Jan 21, 2021;
A married couple, including a woman who worked for the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, is accused of submitting fraudulent unemployment assistance claims.
Tiffany Pacheco, 35, and Arthur Pacheco, 47, were each indicted in Boston on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tiffany Pacheco was also indicted on five counts of wire fraud and Arthur Pacheco on two counts.
The couple, originally from New Bedford, was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, in December.
Tiffany Pacheco was hired by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in April of 2020, shortly after her release from federal prison following a conviction for aggravated identity theft, authorities said. While employed by DUA, Tiffany, authorities said, submitted fraudulent PUA claim information for herself and her h