⏱ 2 min read
A 29-year-old Romanian citizen, Florin Serdaru, was sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for his role in a Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits fraud conspiracy in Maryland. The conspiracy, which took place in 2022, involved Serdaru and his co-conspirators obtaining EBT information from victims across the US, including in Maryland, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, and New York. They used skimming devices to steal the information and duplicate EBT cards.
The scheme targeted lower-income families who rely on SNAP benefits to purchase food and other essential items. Serdaru and his co-conspirators installed skimming devices at point-of-sale terminals in various commercial establishments, allowing them to capture sensitive information and use it to create counterfeit EBT cards.
Serdaru pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $343,756 in restitution and a money judgment of $91,873.52. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), with assistance from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and the Howard County Police Department (HCPD). The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Maryland
- Location: MD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
