Providence man pleads guilty to illegally obtaining SNAP benefits and possessing a firearm

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said a Dominican national in the United States illegally pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of more than $213,000, as well as possession illegal firearms.

Giomar Lopez Meireles, 41, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, illegally obtaining or using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and illegal possession of a firearm.

Cunha alleged that Lopez Meireles conspired with others in a scheme to use stolen identities and Social Security numbers to submit false applications for SNAP benefits in the form of EBT cards.

He used these cards to make purchases for himself or sold them to others.

The fraudulent claims were submitted between September 2021 and November 2023 and resulted in approximately $213,397 in benefits being paid.

Cunha said the search of Lopez Meireles resulted in the seizure of multiple cards as well as a 9 mm handgun.

Lopez Meireles is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4.