Woman convicted of fraud after living under a stolen identity for more than 20 years

Boston Woman Concludes 20-Year Identity Theft Streak with Federal Conviction

A lengthy sting operation has culminated in the arrest and conviction of an undocumented Colombian woman, Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 59, who faked her identity for over two decades to reap benefits from the government. Hernandez had been using a false Social Security number, forged identification cards, and even cast a fraudulent ballot in the November 2024 presidential election.

Her crime spree began with obtaining multiple state-issued IDs, including a Massachusetts Real ID, followed by applying for a U.S. passport, and eventually collecting around $400,000 in federal benefits, including nearly $260,000 in Section 8 assistance and more than $43,000 in SNAP benefits.

Prosecutors argue that Hernandez's actions amount to an affront to those who have chosen to live in the country lawfully and abide by its regulations. They claim her repeated fraudulently obtained numerous state IDs, used a stolen Social Security number, and cast a false ballot, which amounts to "an astounding air of entitlement."

The case carries significant prison sentences ranging from five years to ten years, along with fines of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. Additionally, she will face deportation after completing any sentence.

As the country continues to grapple with immigration laws and identity theft, this conviction serves as a stark reminder of the consequences that those who break these laws must endure.

I feel bad for Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, but at the same time, her actions are just so not cool . She played with people's trust and used a false identity to get stuff she wasn't entitled to . But, on the other hand, 20 years is a looong time to be stuck in this situation , and I'm sure she was just trying to survive and make ends meet.

I think we need to find a way to help people like her without making them face harsh punishments . Maybe there are programs or services that can help undocumented immigrants get back on their feet , rather than throwing them in jail? It's a tough issue, but I think we can do better .

And let's not forget, this case is just one example of how identity theft and immigration laws can affect so many people . We need to have more empathy and understanding for those who are struggling , rather than just punishing them for trying to get by .

Honestly, I'm just so tired of people thinking they can game the system like this. 20 years is crazy! I mean, I get it, she's in a tough spot and all, but come on... that's just not right. And the part about her casting a fake ballot? That's just disgusting . It's not just about the money, it's about respecting the system and the people who work hard to make it run smoothly.

I don't know what our immigration laws need to be adjusted to prevent this kind of thing from happening again... but we gotta do something! We can't just let people exploit the system like this. It's not right for anyone, whether you're undocumented or a US citizen . She might get a slap on the wrist and then back out there, waiting to start all over again. I hope she gets the help she needs, but I also think she should face some real consequences for her actions .

omg what a crazy story i was watching an episode of 20/20 last night about people who impersonate others and it's wild how different their stories are but honestly its all just so messed up like what makes her think she can just fake her whole life away? she's lucky to get only 5-10 years in compared to some ppl who mighta done the same thing but got 20 yrs or more i feel bad for the ppl who actually followed the rules and worked hard their whole lives while this lady was raking it in

I mean, think about it... what's going through your mind when someone does something like that? Like, I get that she did some bad stuff, but 20 years is a looong time to be committing identity theft... how many people got hurt or lost out because of her fake ID and benefits? And it's not just the money, too - what about all the other ppl who tried to legitimize their own identities while she was taking advantage of the system?

Can't help but think about all those legit folks in the US who are struggling to make ends meet and can't even get their hands on some basic benefits . Meanwhile, someone like Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, who's clearly got some serious issues with identity theft, is reaping the benefits for 20 years straight . I'm all for punishment, but it feels like this case is also a reminder that our system can be super unfair and broken in many ways . Plus, what's up with all the fake IDs and passports? How hard is it to get caught up in one of these scams, anyway?