A 57-year-old Lawrence man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Boston to fraudulently obtaining and misusing COVID-19 relief money and stealing Social Security benefits over 22 years totaling more than $200,000.
Randolph Dominguez pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for May 21.
Prosecutors say Dominguez submitted a loan application in June 2020, on behalf of an interpreter business he owned and operated, Dominguez SP Interpreters, to the Small Business Administration under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. He obtained $74,900 in July 2020 when he falsely claimed his gross business revenue was $600,000 the previous year, but the business made only $16,989. Further, Dominguez improperly spent all money on non-business expenses.
Separately, from April 2001 through April 2023, prosecutors said, Dominguez stole approximately $163,642 in Social Security benefits. Dominguez’s father was receiving Social Security benefits at the time of his death in March 2001, but his passing was never reported.