6 Foreign Nationals Accused Of Stealing $300K+ In Card Skimming Scheme

BRISTOL, RI — Six foreign nationals are facing charges in connection to a card skimming scheme that targeted retail shoppers and ATM users in Bristol, Westerly, Johnston, Warwick, Coventry, and Massachusetts.

Federal prosecutors said the group installed devices on ATMs and retail store checkout terminals designed to steal shoppers' credit card information. Then the group would use the information to make counterfeit cards for making purchases and withdrawing money from bank accounts.

According to prosecutors, the group stole more than $300,000 from their victims with the card skimming scheme.

All six suspects: Armando Ion Codreanu, 23, Isabela Ignat Codreanu, 23, Robby Vicson Codreanu, 20, Mila Ciuciu, 20, Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 21, and Ionut Zamfir, 37, currently reside in California. Federal prosecutors said all six suspects are undocumented.

Isabela Ignat Codreanu and Ciuciu, both of Romania, were charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Robby Vicson Codreanu is from the United Kingdom and is facing the same charges. An arrest warrant was also issued for Zamfir, of Romania, on the same three charges.

"The scale, scope, and brazen nature of these defendants’ scheme to steal the financial account information of unsuspecting consumers and use it to help themselves to funds and property, as we have alleged in federal court, is staggering," U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said. "I commend the superb work of Homeland Security Investigations, as well as our local law enforcement partners, for their diligent and effective work to disrupt this ring of thieves, and ensure that those responsible face a reckoning in federal court."

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