BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A Romanian national, Bogdan Boceanu, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for his role in a scheme that stole EBT benefits from families across Kern County.
Boceanu, who has already served 352 days in custody, could be released in roughly 130 more days. Court records also indicate he will be required to pay restitution.
In May, Boceanu pleaded no contest to grand theft of access cards and vandalism. Nine other charges — including burglary, grand theft, and attempted money laundering — were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
He was initially arrested in July 2024 at a Bank of America in Wasco, where he attempted to install a skimming device on an ATM. After posting bail, he was arrested again at a Wells Fargo in Delano on an outstanding warrant. Authorities say he was in possession of 36 cloned EBT cards and over $4,000 in stolen cash.
Boceanu is one of several Romanians linked to an ongoing EBT fraud investigation in Kern County. Three others are set to appear in court Tuesday for arraignment, while two more — Mari-Mar Milica and Fernando Stantu — remain wanted.
This brings the total number of Romanian nationals suspected in the Kern County EBT fraud ring to seven.
