Romanian Immigrant Pleads Guilty to Nationwide Fraud Scheme

ST. LOUIS – In a stunning admission, Adrian Stoica, a 46-year-old Romanian national, has pleaded guilty to a massive sleight-of-hand fraud scheme that spanned across the United States. Stoica confessed to costing big box stores a staggering $161,000 between November 2021 and March 2025.

The defendant, who repeatedly entered the country illegally, was caught conducting at least 170 transactions in 20 states. His deceitful method involved tricking cashiers into believing he would pay the full price by counting out cash after scanning items. However, Stoica cleverly pocketed money from the bottom of the pile, leaving stores shortchanged by hundreds each time.

Three specific incidents in Missouri were mentioned in his plea agreement. On February 17, 2023, Stoica cost a Chesterfield store around $860. The next month, he swindled an O’Fallon store out of $690, and the following day, he fleeced a Fenton store for about $660.

Stoica’s plea agreement outlines his illegal entries into the country in 2016 via Arizona, 2018 via Texas, and before November 2021 from an unknown location. Despite being ordered removed from the country in May 2018 and deported in February 2020, Stoica used multiple aliases to evade detection.

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, a $250,000 fine, or both. The illegal entry charge carries a two-year prison term and the same fine. He will also be required to repay the stolen funds and face deportation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations handled the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf as the prosecutor.