BOSTON – A piece of the Hornea Crew is behind bars. Ion Trifu, 25, a Romanian national, received one year and one day in prison today after pleading guilty to conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices and money laundering conspiracy. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young, marks a small victory in a sprawling case that exposed a sophisticated ATM skimming operation reaching across seven states.
Trifu wasn’t acting alone. He was connected to the Hornea Crew, led by Constantin Denis Hornea and Ludemis Hornea, a criminal enterprise dedicated to ripping off unsuspecting bank customers. The Crew’s method was simple, yet effective: install skimming devices on ATMs, steal debit card numbers and PINs, create counterfeit cards, and then drain victims’ accounts. Nicusor Bonculescu, 24, another member of the Crew, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices, and aggravated identity theft. He’s facing sentencing on June 7, 2018.
The scope of the operation is staggering. For 18 months, the Hornea Crew blanketed ATMs in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. In Massachusetts alone, they hit approximately 29 towns, including Amherst, Billerica, Braintree, and Waltham. The Crew wasn’t just interested in local scores, however; they funneled stolen funds throughout the United States, and even overseas to Romania and the People’s Republic of China, using the money to buy more skimming equipment and continue the cycle of fraud.
Bonculescu is the eighth defendant to admit guilt in the case, which originally indicted 13 individuals in May 2017. The financial penalties facing the defendants are significant. Conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through racketeering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices carries a maximum of five years, three years of supervised release, and another $250,000 fine. Adding to that, Bonculescu faces a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.
Following completion of their sentences, both Trifu and Bonculescu will face deportation proceedings. This wasn’t a solo operation, and the investigation required a massive multi-agency effort. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Andrew E. Lelling, worked alongside the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, IRS-CI, U.S. Secret Service, and a host of local and state police departments from multiple states to unravel the scheme. The sheer number of agencies involved speaks to the complexity of tracking these international financial crimes.
While Trifu’s sentence offers a measure of justice, the Hornea Crew’s reach suggests there’s more to uncover. Investigators are undoubtedly working to identify remaining members and disrupt the flow of illicit funds. The case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of ATM skimming and the lengths criminals will go to exploit vulnerable financial systems. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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