Oliver Raducu Marian, ATM Skimming, California 2016

A Romanian man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for his role in an ATM skimming scheme that stole over $800,000 from victims across the United States.

Oliver Raducu Marian, 37, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in federal prison by United States District Otis D. Wright III. In addition to the prison term, Judge Wright ordered Marian to pay restitution of $799,978.

Marian pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to court documents, the conspiracy began as early as November 2012 and continued to October 2013. The conspirators, all Romanian nationals, attached skimming devices and video cameras to ATM machines and vestibules in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, the San Francisco area, and Las Vegas. The equipment was used to capture the customers’ debit card numbers and PIN numbers.

The defendants then downloaded the stolen information to blank cards and withdrew money from the accounts. Over the course of the scheme, the conspirators stole approximately $800,000 in cash from approximately 3,468 victims. The cash was spent on apartments and storage units.

“Although this defendant had fled the United States, U.S. law enforcement in cooperation with foreign law enforcement was able to bring him back to face judgment,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “International borders do not deter the Department of Justice from prosecuting those who commit crimes against the U.S.”

Marian, who was extradited back to the United States from the United Kingdom, was the 12th member of the conspiracy to be sentenced. Other defendants in the case include Gheorghita Vlasin, Petru Olteanu-Ursachi, Bogdan Ciuchi, Codrin Marian Lupu, Adrian Saran, Marius Robert Manciu, Roman Florin, Vasile Gabrial Branisteanu, Cotovanu Claudiu-Dumitriu, Dumitru Marios Calian, and Vasilica-Iulian Fuioaga.

The 13th man charged in the investigation, Ioan Claudiu Buculei, age 39, of Romania, remains a fugitive.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison, Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.

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