Woman Stole Identity For 10 Years, Arrested In Salem: Police

SALEM, NH — A woman has been charged with stealing someone else's identity for the past 10 years. Police say that Lilian Fana Martinez, 28, of the Dominican Republic, was arrested on federal charges after another woman's driver's license, credit cards and healthcare benefit cards were found in her home in Methuen, Massachusetts. Some of the charges include identity theft and healthcare fraud.

Police began investigating the case in September after Martinez was stopped by police in Salem for violating the "move over" law on Interstate 93. At that time, she presented someone else's driver's license as her own and was cited for operating a vehicle after suspension, according to the State Police. The vehicle she was driving was towed.

After a further investigation, police learned that she was not whom she claimed to be — with assistance from Puerto Rico Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they determined she had stolen the identity of a U.S. citizen living in Puerto Rico, the State Police say.

Martinez's true identity was established with the help of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. State Police say that she was using the other woman's identity for 10 years. On April 18, Martinez was arrested at her Methuen home. There, authorities found government documents confirming Martinez's true identity, as well as healthcare benefit cards, ATM cards and credit cards in the name of the other woman whose identity Martinez had been using, according to the State Police.

Martinez was initially taken into federal custody on multiple charges, two of which include healthcare fraud and identity theft. She was recently extradited to New Hampshire to face felony- and misdemeanor-level charges in two jurisdictions.

The investigation into Martinez's case was conducted by the State Police with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Department, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office and the Methuen Police Department.

Anyone with further information on this case is encouraged to contact State Trooper Aaron Richards at 603-223-8778 or email Aaron.Richards@dos.nh.gov.