Hopkinton Couple Steals Over $2M in Scams

Hopkinton residents Ronaldo Solano, 52, and his wife, Adriana Solano, 41, ran two roofing businesses in Framingham: H&R Roofing & Construction Inc., and H&R Roofing & Siding Corp. The Solanos found themselves in federal court last month, facing the consequences of nearly a decade of fraud that ultimately cost taxpayers and insurance companies over $2.2 million.

For years, the Solanos had been gaming the system through their primary roofing company, and when COVID hit, they saw an even bigger opportunity.

>> RELATED: Hopkinton Couple Sentenced for Fraud Schemes

What They Did

The Solanos spent years systematically cheating multiple systems to line their own pockets. Their longest-running scam targeted workers’ compensation insurance. From 2012 to 2020, Ronaldo Solano found creative ways to avoid paying the premiums his roofing company owed. He lied about how much he was paying his workers, making it look like his payroll was smaller than it was.

Even more brazen, Solano started paying some workers through a completely different company that didn’t have insurance coverage at all. This was about more than just saving money on premiums—it left Solano’s workers unprotected. By saving $627,000 in insurance expenses, Solano also left many employees without workers’ compensation coverage should they get injured on the job.

COVID Relief Theft

When the pandemic hit and the government began offering loans to struggling businesses, the Solanos saw dollar signs. The Solonos applied for $2 million through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, money that was supposed to help businesses survive the economic crisis.

As soon as the Solanos received the money, they moved $1 million of it straight into their personal bank account. Then they took more than $825,000 of that stolen money and used it as a down payment on a luxury home in the Highland Park neighborhood of Hopkinton: 35 Wedgewood Drive.

While legitimate businesses were genuinely struggling to keep their doors open and pay their employees, the Solanos were using taxpayer-funded COVID relief money to buy themselves a fancy new home.

Lying to the Bank

The couple didn’t stop there. When they needed an additional $770,500 mortgage to complete their home purchase, they conveniently forgot to mention to their lender that they were using stolen government money for their down payment. They presented the EIDL funds as if they were legitimate personal assets. This turned their COVID relief fraud into mortgage fraud as well, creating yet another layer of deception in their financial house of cards.

How It Unraveled

Federal investigators, working with state insurance fraud officials, slowly pieced together the evidence. By March 2024, a federal grand jury had seen enough to indict both of them. Facing the mountain of evidence against them, both defendants decided to cut their losses. In January 2025, they pleaded guilty to various fraud charges. Ronaldo faced the more serious charges since he was the primary operator of the schemes.

The Price They’re Paying

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani sentenced Ronaldo Solano to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. For the first six months after prison, he’ll be under home detention. Adriana Solano received “time served.” However, she’ll spend the next 27 months under federal supervision, with the first three months confined to her home.

The financial pain comes from the restitution orders. Together, they owe $1,625,872.03. On top of that, Ronaldo owes an additional $627,675.88 for the workers’ compensation fraud he orchestrated alone. That’s over $2.2 million that they will have to pay back.

Why This Matters

This case is part of a much larger crackdown on pandemic relief fraud. When Congress authorized over $5 trillion in COVID relief funding, it knew some of the money would be stolen. That’s why Congress also set up task forces specifically designed to catch thieves like the Solonos.

The Department of Justice created a COVID Fraud Enforcement Task Force in May 2021, and it has been busy ever since. The Solano case was investigated by a team that included the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and even the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General, with help from the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau.

What makes the Solanos’ case particularly egregious is how they exploited a national crisis for personal gain. The EIDL program was designed as a lifeline for businesses genuinely hurt by the pandemic. Instead of using it for legitimate business expenses like payroll or rent, the Solanos treated it like their personal piggy bank.

The Bigger Picture

Federal prosecutors aren’t done going after pandemic-relief fraudsters. The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee continues to investigate suspicious loans and grants, using advanced analytics to spot patterns that suggest fraud.

The message is clear: just because the immediate crisis has passed doesn’t mean the investigations have stopped. The government is still actively pursuing people who stole relief money, and the penalties are severe.

For the Solanos, their attempts to “get rich quick” have cost them their freedom, their home (presumably), and their reputation. They’ll be paying for their crimes for years to come—both literally and figuratively—including through federal supervision.

Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?

We at HopNews thought the punishment was light, considering what they did and how long they had been cheating the system. So, we consulted with a criminal defense attorney. This is what we found out.

The Solanos are facing consequences that will last far beyond their prison sentences. They’re both convicted felons now—a label that doesn’t disappear with time. That federal press release? It’s permanent. Google their names, and this fraud case will come up for decades, affecting every job application and business opportunity.

Ronaldo’s year in federal prison won’t be easy, especially if he has never been incarcerated. Even if he gets out early for good behavior, he’ll face six months of home confinement, which isn’t just “staying home.” It’s electronic monitoring with strict rules about when you can leave. Think COVID lockdown, but worse. Adriana gets three months of the same treatment.

Then there’s the $2+ million restitution. While on supervised release (which lasts years), federal probation officers will scrutinize every dollar they make and spend. Miss a payment or violate any condition? Federal law enforcement comes knocking.

At 53, Ronaldo emerges from prison as a middle-aged felon trying to rebuild. Every loan, business license, or contract means explaining his criminal history. The roofing business might survive his year away – or it might not. A year is a long time in construction.

This isn’t a slap on the wrist. Between prison, home confinement, massive restitution, years of supervision, and permanent criminal records, the Solanos will be dealing with the fallout from their fraud for decades.

The comfortable lifestyle they tried to secure through stolen COVID money? That’s gone, replaced by years of financial hardship and legal restrictions. Sometimes white-collar sentences look light on paper, but the whole picture tells a different story.

If You Suspect Fraud

The government wants to receive reports of suspected pandemic relief fraud. The National Center for Disaster Fraud operates a hotline at 866-720-5721, along with an online complaint form for reporting suspicious activity.

The Solano case proves that these investigations take time, but they do produce results. What might seem like someone getting away with fraud could be leading to a federal case that results in prison time and large restitution orders.