Crisian Viorel Ciobanu, ATM Skimming, Texas 2018

Grimy Times Investigates

HOUSTON, Texas - In a case that has left many in the community shaken, two Romanian men have been convicted for their roles in an ATM skimming crew. Crisian Viorel Ciobanu, 30, and Bogdan Mirel Constantin, 40, both from Romania, have pleaded guilty to a multitude of charges.

According to investigators, the duo and their co-conspirators used card skimmers to steal ATM card numbers and hidden cameras to record customers' PINs as they inserted their cards. The stolen data was then used to create fake ATM cards, which they used to withdraw at least $390,495.84 from victims' accounts.

Ciobanu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, with a potential sentence of up to 7.5 years for the conspiracy charge. He also faces a mandatory two years for the identity theft charge, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Constantin pleaded guilty to theft and aggravated identity theft, also facing the same two mandatory years in federal prison, along with a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Both men have agreed to pay full restitution to their victims. Their sentencing hearings have been scheduled for January 8, 2018, and January 26, 2018, respectively. They will both remain in custody pending their hearings.

The FBI conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Chu prosecuting the case.

In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez vowed to continue cracking down on those who would seek to exploit the community's trust. 'We will not tolerate such brazen and malicious acts,' he said.

The victims of this crime deserve justice, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.

Stay tuned to Grimy Times for further updates on this developing story.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/romanian-men-convicted-role-atm-skimming-crew