November 19, 2018: Georgia Man Charged with Social Security and Wire Fraud

Food and Drug Administration  Office of Criminal Investigations

	U.S. Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release November 19, 2018	United States Department of Justice District of Massachusetts

Defendant hired as cardiac surgical technologist after allegedly falsifying employment documents, work history, references

BOSTON – A Georgia man will appear in federal court in Springfield today to face charges connected with his submission of a fraudulent application for employment at a Western Massachusetts hospital.

Fabrizio I. Pluchino, a/k/a “Fabrizio Pulchino,” 55, of Atlanta, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Oct. 25, 2018, on one count of using a falsely obtained Social Security number and one count of wire fraud. Pluchino will appear in federal court in Springfield today at 2:00 p.m.

According to the indictment that was unsealed today, Pluchino was assigned a Social Security number in 1988 and subsequently falsely obtained two additional Social Security numbers in 1991 and 2000, respectively. Around November 2013, Pluchino used one of his falsely obtained Social Security numbers on pre-employment documents when he applied to be a Cardiac Surgical Technologist at a Western Massachusetts hospital. He also falsely represented his work history and provided two false employment references. As a result, the hospital hired Pluchino for the position and paid Pluchino more than $190,000 in wages during his employment.

 

The charge of use of a falsely obtained Social Security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.   

 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

Component(s): 

USAO - Massachusetts