A Weymouth resident has admitted guilt in a federal court in Boston for submitting fraudulent information to secure loans through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Dominik Manigo, 26, confessed to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of wire fraud. In January 2025, Manigo was indicted along with Nelson Roche Diaz.
In May 2020, both Manigo and allegedly Roche submitted false claims for PUA on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal. They also provided fraudulent letters claiming their employment at a Boston restaurant was impacted by the pandemic. Neither had worked at the restaurant, yet they each received over $43,000 in PUA and related funds.
The charges carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the guilty plea alongside several law enforcement officials including Jonathan Mellone from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations New England; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble from the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Thomas Demeo from IRS Criminal Investigation in Boston. The Weymouth Police Department provided valuable assistance during this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman is prosecuting this case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
This case aligns with efforts by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established on May 17, 2021, by the Attorney General to combat pandemic-related fraud through collaboration across government agencies.
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud can report it via the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline.
It should be noted that details in charging documents are allegations and any remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
