Former Veterans Affairs Employee Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Multiple Covid-19 Benefits

BOSTON - A Brockton woman, who was employed as a Medical Technician with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for wire fraud.

Denise Baez, 52, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to one year of probation. In July 2026, Baez pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after being charged in April 2026.

Baez submitted two applications seeking Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans. In those applications, Baez made false claims regarding gross income purportedly earned from a sole proprietorship. To support these false claims, Baez attached fraudulent tax documents as part of the applications. The PPP loan applications were approved and Baez received $41,666. Baez used that money on personal expenses. However, in September 2021, Baez submitted loan forgiveness applications that falsely claimed the entire $41,666 was spent on payroll. Based on the misrepresentation the loans were forgiven.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General's Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.