Romanian Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in MS

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A Romanian woman, Loredana Sava, 36, pleaded guilty on August 19th to a wire fraud scheme that targeted grocery stores in Central Mississippi. The scheme, executed on May 7, 2025, involved a ‘quick change’ technique to steal money from local supermarkets and impacted others in the district.

Surveillance footage from various stores in Flowood, Brandon, Ridgeland, and Jackson showed Sava requesting $2500 wire transfers using sleight-of-hand techniques. The scam exploited supermarket terminals connected to servers in Denver, Colorado. At no time did Sava have authorization to legally be present in the United States.

Scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2025, Sava faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office as part of their Cyber Fraud Task Force.

Acting United States Attorney Patrick A. Lemon, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys C. Brett Grantham and Kimberly T. Purdie are prosecuting the case.

This case is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide DOJ initiative aimed at eliminating transnational criminal organizations and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation involves coordinated efforts from various task forces and projects within the Department of Justice.

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