Elvis E. Roman, a 33-year-old citizen of Romania, admitted in federal court to orchestrating a high-tech ATM fraud scheme that bled banks across Washington County, Pennsylvania. Roman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, marking the end of a cross-border operation that exploited unsuspecting customers through rigged machines.
The scheme unfolded in September and October 2018, when Roman and his co-conspirators planted ATM skimming devices on machines in Western Pennsylvania. These hidden gadgets captured account data from cards inserted by legitimate users. With that stolen information, the crew cloned ATM cards and drained accounts through rapid, repeated withdrawals—striking banks in Cecil Township, Peters Township, and South Strabane Township.
Roman entered his plea before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer, admitting to two counts in a federal indictment and one count in a criminal information. The devices used were sophisticated, designed to remain undetected while harvesting sensitive financial data—making it one of the more brazen ATM fraud operations seen in the region in recent years.
Now facing the consequences, Roman is set for sentencing on October 3, 2019, at 9 a.m. The law allows for a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, or both. While the final sentence will reflect the severity of the crimes and Roman’s criminal history—if any—it’s clear the federal system is treating this as a serious breach of financial security.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting the case, underscoring federal determination to crack down on transnational fraud rings. Roman remains in custody pending sentencing, continuing to be held without bond as authorities assess the full financial fallout.
The investigation was a joint effort by the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies, including the Cecil Township, Peters Township, and South Strabane Township Police Departments. Their collaboration dismantled the network before further damage could be done—sending a message that high-tech theft won’t go unanswered, even when it crosses oceans.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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