A Colombian national who was living in the U.S. illegally is facing multiple federal charges after prosecutors say she used a stolen identity for more than 20 years to access public benefits, vote in the 2024 presidential election, and apply for a U.S. passport.

Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 59, is accused of defrauding federal programs out of more than $400,000 and misrepresenting herself as a U.S. citizen. According to the Department of Justice, she obtained a REAL ID and multiple state-issued identification cards while using someone else’s identity, says a Department of Justice release.

Authorities said she registered to vote using false information in January 2023, and surveillance footage showed her wearing an “I voted” sticker at a bank on November 5, 2024 — the day of the presidential election.

“She also applied for a U.S. passport, claiming to be a U.S. citizen who was born in Puerto Rico,” federal officials said.

Orovio-Hernandez has been in federal custody since February and is now charged with false representation of a Social Security number, passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent voter registration, fraudulent voting, and theft of government funds.

She allegedly received $259,589 in Section 8 housing assistance between October 2011 and January 2025, $101,257 in Social Security disability payments from July 2014 through January, and $43,348 in food stamps (SNAP) dating back to April 2005.

“She wasn’t entitled to any of the benefits she received,” U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said, citing Orovio-Hernandez’s unlawful presence in the country. “For more than 20 years, this defendant is alleged to have built an entire life on the foundation of a stolen identity – including illegally voting in our presidential election and collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits intended for Americans in need.”

“The right to vote is one of the many privileges of being a U.S. citizen,” Foley added. “Government funded programs for those in need are intended to be safety nets for those living in our country lawfully – not support an illegal alien without a right to be here.”

Amy Connelly, the special agent in charge of the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General in the Boston-New York field division, said the case is a clear example of long-term abuse of federal systems.

“Stealing someone’s identity to unlawfully obtain Social Security benefits is not just theft—it’s a long-term abuse of a system meant to support those truly in need,” Connelly said.