Denis Adelin Ionescu, Credit Card Skimmer Scheme, Alabama 2026

Credit Card Skimmer Scheme Nets 2 Romanian Nationals Prison Time in Alabama

Denis Adelin Ionescu and Ioan Victor Stanciu, both 24, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to install credit card skimming devices on grocery store point-of-sale terminals across Alabama and Mississippi.

On March 26, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ionescu to 46 months in prison and Stanciu to 24 months in prison. Ionescu had previously pleaded guilty to possession of device-making equipment, while Stanciu had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.

The scheme, which began in March 2025, involved the installation of skimmers on point-of-sale terminals at various retail locations in Alabama and Mississippi. The skimmers captured and stored information from credit, debit, or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards when they were swiped or inserted.

After installing the skimmers, members of the conspiracy, including Ionescu and Stanciu, retrieved the devices and extracted stolen account information. They then used the compromised data to conduct fraudulent transactions, including unauthorized withdrawals and purchases.

The investigation revealed that Ionescu and Stanciu were linked to 23 skimming devices installed at 12 separate locations in Alabama and Mississippi. The intended loss was calculated at $1,794,978.36, while the actual loss attributable to known fraudulent transactions was $50,978.36. The court ordered restitution in that amount.

A co-conspirator, Marian Catalin Matei, 24, a Romanian national, has also been charged in connection with the scheme. Matei is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2026. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Bessemer Police Department, and Ozark Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil prosecuting.

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