Claudiv Pesteleu, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, New Mexico 2026

ALBUQUERQUE – A brazen nationwide fraud scheme, designed to trick victims into wiring money for various consumer products, has come to an end with the sentencing of Claudiv Pesteleu, a 44-year-old Romanian national who participated in the large-scale scam.

Pesteleu, who is illegally present in the United States, has admitted to participating in the scheme from May 2023 through June 2024. He used fake websites impersonating legitimate businesses to trick victims into wiring money for cars, equipment, and other consumer products. However, the funds were instead directed to the bank accounts of shell companies created with fake passports and other fraudulent identity documents.

According to investigators, Pesteleu’s role in the scheme was to help conceal the fraudulently obtained money. He obtained fake identity documents, organized sham businesses, and opened bank accounts for these shell companies using the fake documents. The shell companies and aliases included Zammer Equipment LLC, Super Exotic Deals LLC, Premier E. Liquidators LLC, Adler Pre Owned LLC, Bittman Motors LLC, Nikkos Cargo LLC, and Becker Automotive LLC.

Consumers were directed to wire funds to accounts associated with these entities, believing they were purchasing legitimate goods. However, in total, approximately $1.8 million in fraudulently obtained funds was wired by victims to bank accounts controlled by Pesteleu.

Pesteleu then conducted numerous financial transactions with the money to conceal the source of the funds and to hinder law enforcement from identifying the scheme and seizing the proceeds.

Claudiv Pesteleu, 44, will be sentenced on March 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Las Cruces for the crime of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If you believe you were a victim of Pesteleu, please contact the Homeland Security Investigations tipline at 866-347-2423. For more information on attending the sentencing, please contact Victim Specialist Jacquie Gutierrez at (575) 522-2304 before the date of the hearing.

The Homeland Security Investigations Deming investigated this case with assistance from the Gainesville, Florida Police Department. Las Cruces Criminal Chief Richard Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Gardner are prosecuting the case.

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