9 indicted on federal charges of placing skimming devices on ATMs

Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:

Nine people are facing federal charges for placing skimming devices on ATMs across five states, including Florida, authorities said Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez identified the nine as Adrian Kiraly, Andrei Andrei, Bogdan Ardei, Nelu Onica, Vergiu Corneliu Galbenu, Ovidiu Meczak, Nedal Al-Khomos, Ovidiu Gabriel Musteata and Doru Maris.

They have all been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of seven years and six months. The U.S. is also seeking a money judgment in the amount of $112,780, the proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, between March 2019 and June 2020, the suspects stole debit/credit card information and funds from victims by placing skimmers on ATMs across Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi and New York. After they removed the skimmers, the suspects downloaded the stolen account numbers and PINs and reencoded that data onto blank cards to create counterfeit or unauthorized debit or credit cards.

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