ATM Skimmer Sitariu Gets 48 Months

ALBANY, NY – Ilie Sitariu, 37, a Romanian national, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 48 months for his role in a sophisticated ATM skimming operation that targeted banks across the Capital Region. The sentencing, handed down today, marks the culmination of a federal investigation into the theft of over $127,000 from unsuspecting ATM users.

According to court documents, Sitariu, working with at least one accomplice, meticulously installed undetectable skimming devices and miniature pinhole cameras on ATMs located at First Niagara Bank in Chatham, New York; Trustco Bank in Delmar, New York; and Berkshire Bank in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Between August 30, 2015, and October 24, 2015, the pair captured account numbers and PINs as customers conducted routine transactions.

The stolen data wasn’t kept for long. Sitariu and his co-conspirator swiftly transported the compromised information to New York City, where they used it to drain funds directly from the victims’ accounts. The total haul: a staggering $127,389. This wasn’t a smash-and-grab; it was a calculated, tech-enabled heist preying on the vulnerability of everyday banking.

U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Vadim D. Thomas announced the sentence, a clear signal that federal authorities are cracking down on this increasingly common form of financial fraud. Sitariu, who has been held in custody since his arrest in October 2015, will also serve a 2-year period of supervised release following his prison term.

Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn didn’t stop at imprisonment and supervised release. He also ordered Sitariu to pay full restitution of $127,389 to the affected banks – First Niagara, Trustco, and Berkshire – forcing the defendant to answer for the financial damage caused by his criminal enterprise. This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about making the banks and the victims whole.

The investigation was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the FBI, with crucial assistance from the New York State Police and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and ultimately, the 48-month sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder: seemingly innocuous ATMs can be gateways for complex criminal operations, and federal agencies are working tirelessly to shut them down.