OAKLAND, CA – A brazen scheme to siphon millions in food assistance from California’s most vulnerable citizens has landed three Romanian nationals in federal custody. Petrica Mosneagu, 44; Ionut Sopirla, 38; and Virgil Tudorascu, 42, face federal charges after a multi-district operation led by the U.S. Secret Service uncovered a widespread EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) fraud ring.
The trio are accused of stealing EBT account information and using it to make fraudulent cash withdrawals at ATMs across the state. The scale of the theft is staggering: the California Department of Social Services estimates losses exceeding $22.8 million between January and March of this year alone. This isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s money ripped from the pockets of low-income families struggling to put food on the table.
According to criminal complaints, the operation revolved around “skimming” EBT card information at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals. Sophisticated devices captured the magnetic strip data and PINs of unsuspecting cardholders. This stolen information was then loaded onto “cloned” cards – repurposed debit or gift cards – allowing the defendants to withdraw cash and make purchases as if they were the legitimate benefit recipients. The USSS investigation spanned fourteen months and involved multiple agencies.
The arrests aren’t limited to California. The USSS-led operation resulted in multiple arrests this week, including in the Southern District of California, indicating a potentially wider network. Authorities are working to determine the full extent of the fraud and identify any additional co-conspirators. The investigation involved a complex web of cooperation between federal, state, and international law enforcement, including the Romanian National Police.
Each defendant is charged with the use of unauthorized access devices in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2). If convicted, they each face a maximum statutory sentence of ten years in prison per charge. However, the ultimate sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal sentencing laws (18 U.S.C. § 3553). Mosneagu and Sopirla appeared in court Tuesday morning in Oakland, with detention hearings scheduled for April 10th. Tudorascu made his initial appearance Thursday and will also face a detention hearing on that date.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexis James and Zachary Glimcher are prosecuting the case, supported by Katie Turner and Kay Konopaske. The investigation involved the USSS, California Department of Social Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Francisco Human Services Agency – Special Investigations Unit, Pleasant Hill PD, Richmond PD, Oakland PD, Berkeley PD, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service Bucharest office. It’s a grim reminder that even programs designed to help the most vulnerable are susceptible to exploitation by ruthless criminals. Remember, these are just allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Bruce Choi, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Irina Segal, Medicare Fraud, Philadelphia PA, 2023 · New Jersey
- Amy Evangelista, Tax Return Fraud, Lathrop CA, 2023 · California
- Kenneth Thom, Investment Adviser Fraud, New York NY, 2026 · Oregon
- Irina Segal, Medicare Fraud, Philadelphia PA, 2023 · New Jersey
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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