Duo Held On $1M Bail In EBT Card Skimming Scheme: DA

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Bail was set at $1 million this week for two men accused in a sophisticated criminal financial scheme that defrauded hundreds of Californians receiving public assistance, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said.

Florin Tanasa, 27, and Adam Nilsson, 30 — described as two fly-by-night individuals who have no known ties to Contra Costa County — were arrested Dec. 1 outside a Bank of America in Hercules.

Police were called to the Sycamore Avenue branch when a bank official alerted authorities of consecutive cash withdrawals from EBT cards at the bank’s ATM, the DA's Office said.

A search of their vehicle found 50 fraudulently cloned EBT cards, credit card skimming equipment, and thousands of dollars in cash, according to the DA's Office.

Florin and Nilsson Each face seven felony counts that include second-degree commercial burglary, grand theft, theft, forgery and conspiracy. They also face misdemeanor charges of possessing and/or using a fraudulent scanning device.

They were arraigned Tuesday in Martinez and entered a plea of not guilty.

Deputy District Attorney Dana Filkowski filed a court motion stating the defendants were flight risks, threats to public safety, and were also under investigation in the City of Belmont and Santa Barbara County for similar crimes.

Moreover, Hercules Police authorities established probable cause that funds used by the defendants to post bail would likely come from their criminal activity, the DA's Office said.

Filkowski asked Judge Nancy Davis Stark to set their bail at $1 million each — which she agreed to do.

“Nilsson and Tanasa are mobile perpetrators who have preyed upon California’s most vulnerable residents,” Filkowski said. “Their financial crimes have bilked individuals and families of assistance they need for support. Had they been released on bail, they would have likely continued their criminal enterprise of defrauding those in need.”