EBT Thief Marian Pleads Guilty to $500K Fraud

OAKLAND, CA – Marius Marian, 39, a citizen of Romania, has confessed to a brazen scheme that drained over $500,000 in Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) funds from vulnerable Californians. Marian pleaded guilty today in federal court to bank fraud, illegal reentry into the United States after a prior felony conviction, and lying on his asylum application – a trifecta of deceit that landed him back in federal custody.

According to court documents, Marian’s operation ran from March 2, 2024, through June 3, 2025. He pilfered EBT benefits using over 601 stolen account identifiers, deploying skimmer devices on ATMs and point-of-sale systems across Northern California. These devices silently captured EBT card data, which Marian then encoded onto counterfeit bank cards. He used these fraudulent cards to withdraw cash from ATMs, netting $507,916 and attempting to siphon off an additional $611,845.

The scope of Marian’s greed wasn’t limited to financial theft. He also admitted to submitting a fraudulent asylum application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on or around April 27, 2023, deliberately concealing his previous deportation and a 2019 bank fraud conviction. This was a calculated attempt to evade the consequences of his past crimes and illegally remain in the country. Marian was previously deported after that 2019 conviction, and blatantly disregarded the law by reentering the United States illegally.

Federal investigators from multiple agencies – the FBI, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG), and ICE – collaborated to dismantle Marian’s operation and bring him to justice. The investigation revealed that Marian’s actions caused “substantial financial hardship to at least 25 victims,” according to court records. This wasn’t a victimless crime; it directly impacted those relying on essential aid.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, alongside the lead investigators – FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, DSS Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Diamond, USDA OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida, and ICE Field Office Director Sergio Albarran – announced the guilty plea. Marian is currently being held in federal custody, awaiting sentencing on October 20, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin.

Marian faces a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine for the bank fraud charge (18 U.S.C. § 1344). He also risks 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for illegal reentry (18 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2)), and another 20 years and $250,000 fine for asylum fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1546(a)). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily R. Dahlke, Alycee Lane, and Amala James are prosecuting the case.