2 more members of ATM skimming conspiracy targeting multiple New Jersey bank locations plead guilty

NEWARK, N.J. – Two members of a scheme that used secret card-reading devices and pinhole cameras on PNC and Bank of America ATMs in New Jersey, pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing at least $428,581. The guilty pleas stem from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Stefan Dumitru, 29, of Queens, New York, and Florian Calin Crainic, 47, of Des Plaines, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Dumitru, Crainic and others sought to defraud financial institutions and their customers by illegally obtaining customer account information, including account numbers and personal identification numbers. Dumitru and Crainic both admitted between March 2015 and July 2016, they made unauthorized cash withdrawals using the counterfeit ATM cards.

The conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing for both defendants is set for Nov. 6, 2017.

Joel Abel Garcia, Victor A. Hanganu, and Radu Bogdan Marin, Marcel Peckham, Catalin Mihai Dragomir, Eduard Vasilica Ticu, and Silvester Florentin Papp also pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and await sentencing. To date, nine of the 13 defendants charged in this matter have been convicted.