JACKSON, Miss. — The final defendant in a multi-state card skimming operation that targeted government food assistance programs has been sentenced.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced Monday that Bogdan Gabriel Radu, a 23-year-old Romanian national, will serve 15 months in federal prison and must repay $85,640 in restitution for stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. After serving his sentence, he will be deported from the United States.
Surveillance footage captured Radu placing skimming devices on card readers at retail stores across Mississippi. The stolen data was later used in states as far away as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, allowing the scammers to illegally access SNAP funds meant for low-income families.
The case began in June 2024, when Mississippi authorities started receiving reports of skimmers found on point-of-sale terminals in central Mississippi. These discreet devices were installed over card readers to secretly capture financial information from unsuspecting shoppers. Investigators eventually uncovered over 15 skimmers across Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Radu worked with fellow Romanian nationals Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, 28, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, 29, both of whom were also prosecuted. Authorities say their actions could have resulted in more than $37.6 million in fraudulent losses if not disrupted.
“This scheme reached across state lines to steal sensitive financial information…,” said Attorney General Fitch. “Thanks to our Cyber Fraud Task Force, we stopped all three Romanian nationals from stealing taxpayer dollars meant for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation, including local police departments across Mississippi and Louisiana, the U.S. Secret Service, the USDA Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Consumer Warning:
Mississippians are urged to protect themselves by using chip or tap-to-pay terminals instead of swiping cards and staying alert for unusual-looking card readers. Skimmers often appear bulkier than normal and may detach when tugged at the corners.
