Federal Authorities Arrest Maine Man in Connection With $100,000 Welfare Fraud Scheme

PORTLAND, Maine — Federal investigators have arrested a 24-year-old man accused of stealing more than $100,000 in public assistance benefits through an organized scheme involving cloned welfare debit cards.

Jeronimo Mavungo-Raymond was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals Service deputies on Wednesday, according to federal court records. He made his first appearance in U.S. District Court that afternoon and was appointed a federal public defender.

The case centers on Electronic Benefit Transfer cards issued through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federally funded program that provides financial support to low-income families with children. Over the past seven months, investigators say Maine has documented $103,860 in unauthorized withdrawals and purchases linked to approximately 111 recipient accounts.

The bulk of those losses occurred on a single day. More than $40,000 was drained from accounts on May 1 alone, according to an affidavit filed by Todd Bucci, an investigator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the TANF program.

The investigation began after two separate recipients contacted authorities after receiving alerts about suspicious activity on their accounts. One recipient reported a $560 ATM withdrawal in South Portland and a $9.99 charge at a fried chicken restaurant in Portland, both made without their knowledge. That recipient confirmed to state officials they had not conducted the transactions.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from both locations and used artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, along with Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicle records to identify a vehicle connected to the suspected fraud, according to the affidavit. The license plates in the original video footage were unclear, prompting investigators to turn to additional databases for assistance.

Federal agents later obtained additional surveillance footage showing Mavungo-Raymond at another bank ATM, where he allegedly used multiple cloned cards to withdraw $680 from an account belonging to a different TANF recipient with a child under 12 years old. That recipient also confirmed to a Maine Department of Health and Human Services employee that the transaction was fraudulent.

Bucci's affidavit states that the criminal group responsible for the scheme has been cloning EBT cards and using them to make large withdrawals from automated teller machines throughout Maine and New Hampshire.

Lindsay Hammes, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed that the department worked alongside federal partners to investigate the thefts. She emphasized the agency's commitment to protecting public funds.

"Maine DHHS takes fraud seriously and is committed to ensuring that every dollar managed by the department is utilized lawfully, effectively, and in direct support of the programs and people they are intended to serve," Hammes said in a written statement. "That is why the department engages rigorous oversight and coordination with law enforcement and partners, including the federal government."

As a precaution, the department implemented new restrictions in August 2025, blocking Maine-issued EBT accounts from making purchases outside of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The measure aims to prevent large-scale theft and card cloning operations.

The scheme described in federal court documents mirrors earlier incidents reported by the department. In August, at least 300 SNAP recipients—participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—had their cards cloned, resulting in more than $76,000 in stolen benefits.

Hammes said the state typically replenishes lost funds for recipients who fall victim to electronic theft and phishing schemes. She encouraged TANF recipients to review their account activity regularly, change their personal identification numbers frequently, and use the online portal to freeze their accounts if they suspect unauthorized access.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests are expected.