A Romanian national, Andrei Fagaras, age 35, has been sentenced to time served for access device fraud in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2025, following his custody since November 20, 2024.
Court documents indicate that Fagaras and two others possessed credit and debit card skimming equipment at three retail locations in the district on November 13 and 14, 2024. They installed these skimmers on point-of-sale machines.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation brings together resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Matthew Wilkins, Acting Special Agent in Charge at the USDA Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), stated: “We appreciate the collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation. Those who are involved in fraud regarding USDA taxpayer-funded programs will be investigated by our office to protect the integrity of those programs.”
The investigation was conducted by agents from the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; United States Secret Service; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; New Orleans Police Department; Harahan Police Department; and Scott Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero is prosecuting the case.