Nicolae Gindac, Bank Fraud, Maryland 2023

A Florida man has been sentenced to over four years in prison for his role in a bank fraud and wire fraud conspiracy that targeted religious institutions.

Nicolae Gindac, 52, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang in Greenbelt, Maryland.

According to court documents, Gindac and at least five co-conspirators stole and negotiated checks from the U.S. mail intended for religious institutions between June 2018 and January 2021.

The scheme involved the opening of fraudulent bank accounts at several victim financial institutions under false identities and the negotiation of stolen checks by way of ATMs.

Gindac deposited stolen checks into fraudulent bank accounts held in the names of his family members, including a minor family member, and others.

The conspiracy received at least $1,065,282.53 from 2,477 stolen checks, with Gindac depositing or being present when at least $64,811.03 was deposited into 13 fraudulent accounts.

Gindac was arrested on February 6, 2021, and recovered approximately $7,930.38 in cash, as well as a yellow-gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex men's watch.

Two co-conspirators, Vlad Baceanu and Florin Vaduva, were recently extradited to the United States and have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/florida-man-sentenced-over-four-years-prison-bank-fraud-and-wire-fraud-conspiracy