Four Brazilian nationals are facing federal charges in Ohio for their alleged roles in a cross-country ATM skimming conspiracy that targeted unsuspecting cardholders across multiple states. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Dayton, charges Ricardo C. De Andrade, 38, Sandro L. Trancoso Da Silva, 40, Diego M. Dacosta, 31, and Leonardo W. Targino, 19, with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States through electronic fraud and identity theft.
According to court documents, the operation began unraveling in January 2018 when Dayton law enforcement observed suspicious behavior near the Miller Lane area. Surveillance led to the discovery of three laptop computers, a magnetic stripe credit card encoder, and more than 400 counterfeit credit cards in the defendants’ possession. The devices and materials were part of a sophisticated network designed to clone cards and harvest personal financial data.
The indictment details a well-organized scheme: the men rented vehicles in South Florida and traveled through North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. Along the way, they received FedEx packages containing hundreds of counterfeit American Express, MasterCard, and Visa cards bearing fake names like “Richard Martin” and “Felipe Mello.” Using portable encoders, they loaded stolen account data onto the magnetic strips.
Investigators allege the defendants covertly installed ATM skimming devices and pinhole cameras on commercial machines to capture account numbers and personal identification numbers from victims. With the cloned cards in hand, the group made high-end purchases—clothing, jewelry, electronics, luxury watches, hotel stays, rental cars, and meals—funding a mobile criminal lifestyle.
Some of the stolen goods were shipped back to associates in South Florida, who resold the items online and laundered the proceeds. The operation relied on compartmentalized roles, rapid movement, and encrypted logistics to evade detection—hallmarks of transnational financial crime rings operating across U.S. jurisdictions.
The defendants were initially charged via criminal complaint and arrested last month. U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman praised the work of the U.S. Secret Service and the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Keller. An indictment is not a conviction—the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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