Irish citizens Armando Ion Codreanu, 23, and Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 21, are among six people who have been arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Armando Ion Codreanu is a citizen of Ireland who last entered the US illegally at an unknown place and time, while Nicolas Longin Codreanu is a citizen of Romania and Ireland who last entered the United States on or about October 10, 2017, and has since overstayed the conditions of his admission.
Meanwhile, Ignat Codreanu, 23, and Mila Ciuciu, 20, both of Romania, and British citizen Robby Vicson Codreanu, 20, have also been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud as part of the investigation.
An arrest warrant has also been issued for 37-year-old Romanian citizen Ionut Zamfir, who is currently a fugitive. Zamfir is charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
All six were charged on June 14; three made their initial appearances in federal court on July 9.
According to HSI, the conspiracy involved placing skimming devices on ATMs at banks in Bristol, Warren, Johnston, and Westerly in Rhode Island.
The six individuals also allegedly placed skimming devices at retail store self-checkout terminals in Johnston, Warwick, and Coventry in Rhode Island, while also carrying out the same conspiracy in Avon, Raynham, Seekonk, North Attleboro, Quincy, and Walpole in Massachusetts.
HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol alleged that the conspiracy defrauded thousands of New England residents by stealing credit card information.
"The complaint alleges these six individuals are members of an organization who defrauded thousands of residents of Rhode Island and beyond of their hard-earned money," Krol said in a statement.
"The ATM and point of sale skimming equipment they used worked quickly and efficiently to steal credit card information, allowing them to clone and illegally access credit cards, bank accounts, and other financial accounts of unsuspecting victims."
The charging document states that police in Bristol, Rhode Island, received a report from a local bank in October 2023 that a skimming device had been discovered on a drive-through ATM.
HSI and Bristol Police examined surveillance footage from the bank and observed two individuals allegedly placing and removing a skimming device at an ATM.
Further investigation by HSI determined that at least one of the individuals was allegedly also visible in security camera images installing skimming devices at retail locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in September and December 2023.
In December 2023, HSI received reports that two skimming devices had been placed at ATMs in Westerly, Rhode Island.
Security footage showed individuals who were likely responsible for placing and removing the devices. Footage of the individuals allegedly matches images of individuals responsible for installing skimming devices at other locations in the region.
US Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha commended HSI for the large-scale investigation.
"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," Cunha said in a statement.
"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."
Comments