A theft ring allegedly planted a 'staggering' number of card skimmers at RI stores. What to know.

Katie Mulvaney, Providence Journal
Updated ·3 min read
60

PROVIDENCE — A group of Romanian nationals living on the West Coast are accused of planting skimming devices on local bank ATMs and self-checkout registers at stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to steal customers' credit and debit card information and PIN numbers to later drain their bank accounts, according to federal authorities.

The widespread skimming scheme netted more than $300,000 from local bank accounts via counterfeit cards created with the stolen card information and PIN numbers, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Where skimmers were found: In Rhode Island, the skimmers were found on ATMs in Bristol and Westerly; self-checkouts at BJ's Wholesale Club stores in Warwick, Johnston and Seekonk; and Walmart stores in Warwick and Coventry.

Elsewhere in the country from May 2023 through August 2023, BJ’s Wholesale Club alone recovered skimming devices at 22 separate locations, including Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, authorities said.

“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 A. Cunha said in a statement.

He commended Homeland Security Investigations, as well as 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.”

Security images taken from the Walmart on Post Road in Warwick that authorities say show the group accused of planting skimming devices to steal customers' credit card and PIN numbers
Security images taken from the Walmart on Post Road in Warwick that authorities say show the group accused of planting skimming devices to steal customers' credit card and PIN numbers

Bristol police first alert federal agents

According to the affidavit, the alleged conspiracy surfaced when the Bristol Police Department began investigating the origin of skimming devices found on Bank Newport ATMs and notified Homeland Security.

In Westerly, police received complaints in December about numerous compromised accounts from skimming devices at ATMs at two Westerly Community Credit Union branches.

Security footage and still photographs taken from the banks in Bristol and Westerly captured images of the people agents believed placed, and then removed, the skimming devices, authorities said.

That same month, an elderly Westerly couple reported multiple $1,000 withdrawals from their bank accounts at the Dunns Corner branch, amounting to a total of $25,000 being taken from both, the affidavit states.

According to the credit union, withdrawals came from several ATMs in Rhode Island totaling $279,250 stolen from 44 distinct accounts, authorities said.

Security images taken from the Walmart on Post Road in Warwick that authorities say show the people alleged to have planted skimming devices at self-checkout terminals.
Security images taken from the Walmart on Post Road in Warwick that authorities say show the people alleged to have planted skimming devices at self-checkout terminals.

The individuals facing charges

Included in the affidavit are surveillance images authorities say show the alleged conspirators traipsing through retail stores, shielding one another as skimming devices are installed, and of them making ATM withdrawals.

Here's the list of those charged by federal prosecutors:

  • Armando Ion Codreanu, 23, of Placentia, California, citizen of Ireland, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

  • Isabela Ignat Codreanu, 23, of Anaheim and Placentia, California, a citizen of Romania; Robby Vicson Codreanu, 20, of Placentia, California, a citizen of Great Britain; and Mila Ciuciu, 20, of Placentia, California, a citizen of Romania, are each charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud.

  • Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 21, of Placentia, California, a citizen of Romania and Ireland, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is due to be transported to Rhode Island.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Ionut Zamfir, 37, of Los Angeles, California, a citizen of Romania. Zamfir is charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

All, who authorities allege are in the United States illegally, are expected to make an appearance before a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: West Coast group targeted RI Walmart, BJ's stores with card skimmers. What to know.