A Romanian citizen, Daniel Iulian Teutoc, also known as Simon Mikula, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a case involving the use of card skimming devices at Walmart stores throughout the Eastern District of Louisiana. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Court documents state that Teutoc and his codefendant, Constantin Calin, visited several Walmart locations in areas including Laplace, Slidell, Harvey, Boutte, Chalmette, and New Orleans. They collected card information from point-of-sale terminals where skimming devices had been previously installed by other members of their group. The two used magnets to activate the skimmers and transmit stolen card data electronically to their cell phones.
After obtaining credit, debit, and EBT card details from customers, Teutoc and Calin sent this information to another coconspirator so that fraudulent charges could be made using the stolen data. As part of his plea agreement, Teutoc agreed to pay more than $11 million in restitution to victims.
Teutoc faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2026 before Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle acknowledged the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, New Orleans Police Department, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office for their roles in investigating the case.
“Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Moses (Healthcare Fraud Coordinator), Paul J. Hubbell (General Crimes Unit), and André Jones (lead OCDETF Narcotics Task Force Attorney) are in charge of the prosecution,” according to the statement.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues and dismantling transnational criminal organizations through coordinated law enforcement resources under programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
