NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Tamas Kolozsvari, a 30-year-old Romanian national, is facing a hefty prison sentence after admitting to a sophisticated credit card skimming operation targeting businesses across the Eastern District of Louisiana. Kolozsvari pled guilty on July 1, 2025, to three counts of access device fraud, a federal crime carrying significant penalties.
According to court documents unsealed today, Kolozsvari and two unnamed accomplices were caught red-handed on November 13, 2024, and November 14, 2024, possessing the tools of their trade – credit and debit card skimmers. These devices were strategically installed on point-of-sale (POS) machines at three different retail locations, allowing the trio to illegally harvest sensitive financial data from unsuspecting customers.
The operation wasn’t a smash-and-grab. It was a calculated effort to compromise financial security. Federal prosecutors detailed how Kolozsvari’s crew deployed these skimmers to capture card numbers and PINs, information then used to create fraudulent copies and drain victims’ accounts. The scale of the potential financial damage remains under investigation, but authorities believe the scheme could have impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals.
Kolozsvari now faces up to fifteen years imprisonment for each of the three counts of access device fraud – a potential total of 45 years behind bars. Beyond incarceration, he’s looking at up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 per count, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each charge. Sentencing is currently scheduled for October 28, 2025, giving Kolozsvari time to consider his next move.
This case is being touted as a win for “Operation Take Back America,” a sweeping federal initiative designed to combat transnational crime and illegal immigration. While the connection between a Romanian credit card skimming ring and broader border security might seem tenuous, the Department of Justice is framing it as part of a larger effort to dismantle criminal organizations operating within U.S. borders. The operation leverages resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by Special Agents of the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, and supported by local law enforcement including the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This prosecution sends a clear message: targeting American consumers will not be tolerated, regardless of where the criminals come from.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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