Pawtucket Man Sentenced for Fraudulent SNAP Activities

News Summary

Reynaldo Martinez of Pawtucket has been sentenced to 73 months in prison for defrauding the SNAP program and the U.S. Treasury, amassing over $100,000 through fraudulent means. He obtained multiple SNAP EBT cards using stolen identities and manipulated check documents for personal gains. Martinez’s extensive criminal history highlights significant impacts on essential assistance programs and the ongoing battle against fraud.

Pawtucket

Reynaldo Martinez, a 32-year-old man from Pawtucket, has been sentenced to 73 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the U.S. Treasury of over $100,000. Martinez’s criminal activities included obtaining numerous SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards using stolen identities and fraudulent Social Security numbers.

In total, Martinez managed to acquire at least 40 SNAP EBT cards through illicit means. His approach involved filing SNAP benefit applications at various Rhode Island Department of Human Services locations. He did this using fraudulent driver’s licenses that featured his own photograph along with different names.

Martinez received a significant amount of money through fraudulent SNAP benefits, totaling $33,192.36. Additionally, he was found to have cashed altered U.S. Treasury checks made payable to himself and other individuals, amounting to $79,532.32 acquired through his scheme. The checks were manipulated by Martinez and his co-conspirators, who assisted in altering checks to reflect identities from the fraudulent documentation he had obtained.

On April 2, 2025, Martinez pled guilty to multiple charges including two counts of conspiracy, one count of misuse of a Social Security number, and one count of aggravated identity theft. His sentencing was confirmed for July 8, 2025.

Criminal History

Martinez has an extensive criminal background, with multiple fraud convictions across various states dating back to 2012. Notably, he served 48 months in prison for fraud and identity theft in 2017, underscoring a consistent pattern of criminal behavior.

The Impact of SNAP Fraud

SNAP is a vital program providing assistance to low-income individuals and families in accessing food. Fraudulent actions like those committed by Martinez not only undermine the integrity of the program but also deprive legitimate beneficiaries of essential resources. The U.S. Treasury also incurs significant losses due to such fraudulent activities, which divert funds from intended programs and services.

Legal Consequences

Martinez’s case illustrates the serious legal repercussions of engaging in fraud. With the combination of prison time and a lengthy supervised release period, offenders face substantial penalties that reflect the gravity of their crimes. His upcoming sentencing will further determine the extent of his accountability for these offenses.

The case against Martinez highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat fraud and protect essential public assistance programs from exploitation. Authorities continue to investigate and pursue individuals involved in similar schemes to maintain the integrity of these social support systems.

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Additional Resources

• ABC6 News
• Boston Globe
• Turn to 10
• Providence Journal
• WHDH News
• Wikipedia: Fraud
• Google Search: Sociology of Fraud
• Google Scholar: Fraud Prevention
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Google News: SNAP Fraud