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Romanian Man Sentenced for Role in $320,000 Online Marketplace Scheme
A Romanian man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in receiving and sending overseas approximately $320,000 in illicit proceeds derived from an international fraud scheme involving online marketplace websites.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee and U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger of the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement.
Alexandru Stanciu, 36, of Bucharest, Romania, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2013 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud in February 2014. In addition to his prison term, Stanciu was ordered to pay $305,106 in restitution.
According to statements at his plea hearing, Stanciu’s co-conspirators fraudulently listed vehicles for sale at online marketplaces such as eBay. When victims expressed interest in purchasing the vehicles, co-conspirators responded with emails directing the victims to wire payments to specified bank accounts. These bank accounts were opened by Stanciu, using false identities and fraudulent documents, including counterfeit passports, between December 2011 and July 2013.
In total, 17 victims sent approximately $321,389 to accounts opened by Stanciu. Stanciu subsequently sent the bulk of the money to co-conspirators located overseas. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Senior Counsel Mysti Degani of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron M. Jones of the Middle District of Tennessee.
Stanciu’s scheme involved using fake identities and counterfeit documents to open bank accounts, which were then used to receive and send the stolen funds. The complexity and breadth of the scheme highlights the need for vigilance when engaging in online transactions.
The guilty plea and sentencing of Stanciu serve as a reminder of the consequences of participating in international fraud schemes. The U.S. Attorney’s office and its law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these types of schemes and bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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