Hardwired cameras no bigger than a screw head. Magnetic strip thieves hidden in plain sight. That was the setup Nicu Sorin Pantelica, 28, of Houston, Texas, allegedly used to bleed cash from Pittsburgh-area ATMs in a cold, calculated bank fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors say the Romanian national deployed skimming devices and pinhole cameras to harvest sensitive banking data and PINs from unsuspecting customers.
Pantelica was indicted on three counts—conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft—by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, announced U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. The indictment alleges that Pantelica and his co-conspirators surreptitiously installed the electronic traps on automated teller machines across the region, capturing card data and personal identification numbers to clone ATM cards and drain accounts.
Using the stolen information, the crew manufactured counterfeit cards and withdrew funds directly from victims’ accounts, turning Pittsburgh ATMs into their personal piggy banks. The operation, slick and silent, relied on high-tech stealth—cameras disguised in paneling, skimmers snug over card slots—all designed to go unnoticed by users pulling cash at gas stations, convenience stores, and standalone kiosks.
If convicted, Pantelica faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 62 years in federal prison. Prosecutors are also seeking a fine of $2,250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the final sentence will hinge on the severity of the fraud and whether Pantelica has a prior criminal record—details not yet disclosed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Conway is leading the prosecution. The United States Secret Service spearheaded the investigation, with critical support from the South Strabane Police Department. Their probe cracked the operation wide open, tracing hardware, transactions, and digital footprints back to the accused.
An indictment is not a conviction. Nicu Sorin Pantelica is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the charges paint a damning picture of a transnational thief exploiting everyday banking habits for profit—one swipe at a time.
Related Federal Cases
- Texan Lozano Pleads Guilty in Cocaine Ring Scheme · Pennsylvania
- Xavier Walton Arraigned in $285K Timeshare Fraud Scheme · New York
- Robert Morgan Indicted in $500M Mortgage Fraud Scheme · Pennsylvania
- Mark Holmes Charged in $400K Bribery, Tax Fraud Scheme · Pennsylvania
- Guatemalan National’s Fake ID Scheme Cracks Down · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
