Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022 Former Everett Man Indicted on Wire Fraud, Social Security Misuse and Identity Theft Defendant allegedly used stolen identity to apply for apartment and pandemic relief loan B OSTON – A former Everett man was indicted this week on identity theft and fraud charges in connection with schemes to fraudulently obtain an apartment and pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Tedje Menard, 27, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud, one count of false representation of a social security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. Menard was initially charged and arrested in November 2021. According to the charging documents, in or around November 2020, Menard applied to rent an apartment in East Boston using the name and identity of another person. As part of the application and screening process, Menard falsely claimed to be the victim by providing the company overseeing the property with, among other things, the victim’s name, Social Security number, date of birth and a copy of a purported North Carolina driver’s license containing the victim’s information but depicting a photograph of Menard. Additionally, in June 2021, Menard allegedly submitted an EIDL application in the amount of $40,000 using the victim’s name and personal identifiable information. It is also alleged that in April 2021, Menard used his own name to apply for a PPP loan in the amount of approximately $20,833. In the loan application, it is alleged that Menard falsely represented his business’ total gross income in 2019 and his criminal history. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Labor and the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. CHA wins MHQP Patient Experience Awards C ambridge Health Alliance (CHA) has received three awards from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) for being one of the top practices in Massachusetts for patient experience in primary care. The “MHQP Patient Experience Awards” is an annual awards program introduced in 2018 by MHQP, a nonprofit measurement and reporting organization that brings together providers, health plans and patients to improve the quality of patient care experiences in Massachusetts. MHQP conducts the only statewide survey of patient experience in primary care in Massachusetts. Awards were given to top overall performers in adult primary care and pediatrics in each of nine performance categories. Two CHA health centers in Somerville won awards from MHQP for patient experience in primary care: CHA Union Square Family Health received an adult care distinction for Office Staff Professional Excellence, and the CHA Broadway Care Center received pediatric care distinctions for Ease of Access to Care and Patient-Provider Communications. “Even with the tremendous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, these teams consistently pulled together and put patients first,” said CHA’s Senior Medical Director of Primary Care, Dr. Lora Council. “This honor reflects the heartfelt work at the core of centering care around our patients’ needs.” “Although the pandemic HISTORY | FROM PAGE 5 rican-Americans helped build the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House. “Black people have been involved in the United States since the Revolutionary War – we’re proud of our heritage. I’ve been the pascontinues to have an immeasurable impact on healthcare everywhere, the 2021 winners of the 2021 MHQP Patient Experience Awards found a way to rise above this crisis and provide bestin-class patient experiences during a very challenging time,” said MHQP President/ CEO Barbra Rabson. “We are thrilled to congratulate each of them on behalf of their patients for their exceptional commitment to excellence.” tor of Zion for 42 years and I’ve seen the changes.” Brown also spoke about the effort to bolster healthcare for Everett’s African-American community. “Healthcare is necessary,” he said. “We need to take this pandemic seriously.” Shown, from left to right, are Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Leo Robinson, candidate for State Representative, and Bishop Robert Brown, senior pastor of Zion Church Ministries.
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