A federal jury in Massachusetts has convicted a Colombian woman of living illegally in Boston under a stolen identity for more than 20 years and receiving over $400,000 in stolen benefits.

Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 59, who has remained in federal custody since her initial indictment last February, has also been convicted of using the stolen identity to vote in the 2024 presidential election.

Authorities say the woman obtained a Massachusetts Real ID and eight other state IDs through the stolen identity, which she also used to apply for a U.S. passport.

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley describes the crimes as a “slap in the face to all those who come into this country legally and abide by our laws.”

“Ms. Orovio-Hernandez has lived in this country illegally for two decades, during which time she repeatedly made false statements, stole, committed fraud and even voted illegally,” Foley said in a statement on Friday. “The air of entitlement is astounding. This case is yet another example of our commitment to rooting out those who violate our immigration laws and steal from United States Citizens.”

Orovio-Hernandez used the stolen identity to submit a fraudulent voter registration form in January 2023 and then cast a fraudulent ballot in the 2024 presidential election.

The Colombian national also received more than $400,000 in federal benefits: $259,589 in Section 8 rental assistance benefits from October 2011 through January 2025; $101,257 in Social Security disability benefits from July 2014 through January 2025; and $43,348 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from April 2005 through January 2025.

After a five-day trial in federal court in Boston, a jury convicted Orovio-Hernandez of one count of false representation of a Social Security number; one count of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport; one count of aggravated identity theft; three counts of receiving stolen government money or property; and one count of fraudulent voting.

Shawn Rice, a federal special agent in charge with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said Orovio-Hernandez’s actions were “not a one-time mistake or accident.”

“Orovio-Hernandez’s calculated deception caused her to fraudulently receive over $400,000 in federal benefits including more than $250,000 in HUD rental assistance,” Rice said in a statement. “These taxpayer funds were intended to provide housing assistance to our most at-risk populations – low-income, disabled, and elderly United States citizens.”

The Department of Homeland Security used Orovio-Hernandez’s case last year to advertise how it updated the so-called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, meant to stop voter fraud.

“Illegal aliens have exploited outdated systems to defraud Americans & taint our elections,” DHS stated in a social media post last spring, around the time of Orovio-Hernandez’s indictment.

Stuck at Boston Children’s Hospital, facing unimaginable health challenges, a 12-year-old Chelmsford boy received hope from Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson.

Henderson sent a video to Jack Jolie, rooting for the bubbly youngster to overcome all the obstacles stacked up against him. It was just 10 seconds, but Jack says the message means the world to him.

“What’s up, Jack? TreVeyon Henderson here, man,” the promising rookie says in the video. “Man, I hope you get better. I just want to let you know that I am praying for you, man. God bless, man.”

Jack received the video on Jan. 2. Eleven days later, he was discharged from the hospital and headed home. The boy will soon be evaluated for a liver transplant, as he is battling internal bleeding from portal hypertension.

On Sunday, Jack and his entire family will have their eyes glued to the television as the Patriots face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. This is New England’s first championship game that Jack will fully remember, and he hopes that Henderson, his favorite player, “finds the outside” for a long rushing touchdown.

Win or lose, Jack says he will always root for Henderson and that the running back may not be aware of the full magnitude of his video of encouragement.

“It helps me a lot,” Jack told the Herald via phone ahead of Super Bowl weekend. “I know that they are there for me, and I know that everyone is here for me. It definitely is big.”

Jack’s mother, Meghan Jolie, says her son has the “best support system there is,” with a large family, a big group of friends, and “really understanding” teachers. The network has grown to include Henderson and the Patriots organization.

“It kind of brings it full circle,” the mother said of Henderson’s video. “It doesn’t take much to help, especially with these celebrity athletes. For them, to say ‘Send a 15-second video,’ hopefully it doesn’t take a whole lot out of their day to do, but it really meant a lot going through this type of time.”

As a 2-year-old in 2015, Jack was diagnosed with a rare form of severe combined immunodeficiency, which doctors describe as a life-threatening genetic disorder where infants are born with little to no immune system.

Jack then received a bone marrow transplant to combat the diagnosis, but his immune system rejected it. Over the years, the youngster has suffered from symptoms of graft-versus-host disease: scarring issues with his eyes, lung and liver disease, among others, his mother said.

Over the past few months, Jack has been admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital several times and spent time in between the intensive care unit and regular care. He was home less than a handful of nights between Dec. 20 and Jan. 13.

“It’s a lot of waiting and seeing,” Meghan Jolie told the Herald. “We take every day as it comes, deal with what we have to, and figure it out.”

Through it all, Jack has turned into a Patriots superfan. He watches more games than not, even when hospitalized, and has become knowledgeable about football and the NFL.

Proof: “I am really shocked by how much Mike Vrabel was able to change the team from four wins,” Jack said of New England’s head coach. “Now, they are in the stinkin’ Super Bowl.”

“The best part is that we have beaten a lot of great defenses,” the youngster said of the Patriots’ Super Bowl run, becoming the first team in NFL history to defeat three top-five defenses. “If we just get rolling in the beginning, we have a chance to win this one and get banner 7 here in Foxboro.”

Jack and his family attended the Week 15 loss to Buffalo. Despite New England’s 10-game winning streak ending, the young fan gained an ultimate VIP gameday experience, including club seats and pregame field passes.

Jack’s mother’s boyfriend, William DiTullio, applied for the opportunity, with the Patriots selecting the family for the experience.

While on the field, star cornerback Christian Gonzalez spotted Jack and threw a ball over to him.  The family then went over by the tunnel where the Patriots are introduced, and Jack tried his best to get Henderson’s attention, but couldn’t.

“Jack has a very big personality, but his voice didn’t quite travel,” his mother said, chuckling.

In the loss, Henderson recorded two rushing touchdowns of over 50 yards. “We were going wild,” Meghan Jolie said.

Days after the game, Jack was admitted to the hospital. DiTullio shared Jack’s story with Stacey James, asking the Patriots’ vice president of communications whether Henderson could send Jack a little video.

A few days later, James emailed DiTullio, saying, “Hopefully this will brighten Jack’s spirits and let him know that we’re all thinking about him.”

“That stuff always thrills me,” DiTullio said of the video. “I just feel like there’s not a lot of that in the world today, and too many people are just self-absorbed.”

“They could have easily just taken the request,” he added, “and said, ‘We get a dozen of these a day, we can’t fulfill them all.’ I know how much he loves TreVeyon.”

Jack quickly responded to Henderson’s message, thanking him for the video.

“It really meant a lot, and I hope you guys have fun and do your best in the playoffs. … Maybe once I get out of Boston Children’s Hospital, we can maybe meet up sometime and play catch just because you’re my favorite player.”

Henderson responded to the video with a message on X the evening before the Patriots’ Divisional Round game against the Texans: “Glad you are headed home Jack! God bless,” the running back wrote.

About 100 people at a shopping complex in Hanover, Massachusetts, were evacuated from multiple businesses, including Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods, because of a gas leak Saturday, fire officials said.

Firefighters arrived at Hanover Crossing within minutes after multiple 911 calls reported a gas leak in the area of 1775 Washington Street around 4 p.m., the Hanover Fire Department said. Firefighters learned on scene that an exterior gas meter assembly had been struck by snow removal equipment.

Hanover firefighters urged the public to avoid the affected area and initiated an immediate evacuation after confirming there was an active gas leak with a significant vapor cloud extending from the damaged meter, accompanied by a loud roaring sound. The department recalled all of its off-duty firefighters to help.

Evacuating occupants and establishing a secure hazard zone was complicated by the size of the parking area and the numerous access points throughout the shopping complex, the department added.

Eversource responded to the scene and secured the leak, which was below the shutoff valve, about an hour after it began, fire officials said. National Grid also responded to assist with securing electrical service in the affected area.

Once the gas leak was mitigated, firefighters conducted safety checks of nearby businesses, with several requiring ventilation. All but four stores were allowed to resume normal operations within one hour of the gas leak being secured.

The evacuation was done as a precaution, according to Eversource, which said they hadn’t heard of anyone needing to be taken to the hospital.

The scene was cleared around 6:45 p.m., however Hanover Inspectional Services and Eversource remained on site to complete repairs to the damaged utilities.

The public is reminded to call 911 immediately if a gas leak is suspected, including situations involving a strong odor, visible vapor cloud, or loud hissing or roaring sound. The fire department also said that extra caution should be used when operating snow removal or other equipment near utility meters.