A man who lives in the Fairfax district was sentenced Monday to three years behind bars for his role in a scheme that involved using illegal skimmers on ATMs to steal cash from low-income residents.
Sorin-Miguel Ghiorghe, 47, created counterfeit debit cards using account holders' stolen information, and then used the cards to make withdrawals from victims' accounts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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The indictment says the skimming ring focused on illegally accessing funds administered by the California Department of Social Services to low- income California residents through Electronic Benefit Transfer accounts, including CalFresh and CalWorks benefits.
Ghiorghe entered his plea in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and one count of possession of device-making equipment.
A Romanian man whom prosecutors believe illegally entered the United States, Ghiorghe admitted that he and his accomplices used counterfeit cards to withdraw thousands of dollars from victims' accounts, according to papers filed in L.A. federal court.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case and with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department.
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