A Romanian national, Doru Adamesc, also known as “Petru Golban,” has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud. The sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson following Adamesc’s guilty plea.
Court documents reveal that on May 19 and 20, 2024, Adamesc and a co-conspirator engaged in fraudulent activities at retail stores. While the co-conspirator distracted cashiers, Adamesc installed card skimmers on credit card machines. He was apprehended on June 5, 2024, when he attempted to retrieve one of these devices from a store. A search of his vehicle led to the discovery of two large magnets used for activating Bluetooth capabilities on skimming devices and cellular phones containing images of approximately 60 gift cards re-encoded with stolen card numbers.
Law enforcement officials seized six credit card skimmers before Adamesc could retrieve them. These devices had captured around 421 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card numbers.
Matthew Wilkins, USDA-OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge, stated: “We appreciate the collaboration with our 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 and brought to justice to protect the integrity of those programs.”
St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith commented: “This case is an excellent example of law enforcement professionals on the federal, state and local levels working together… Installing skimming devices to steal innocent people’s financial information is not only illegal — it’s a violation of trust.”
U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown imposed a sentence including three years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended several agencies for their investigative efforts: the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; the United States Secret Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office; and New Orleans Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni from the Financial Crimes Unit led the prosecution.
