Seven Plead Guilty To ATM Skimming Scheme That Included Braintree

BRAINTREE, MA — Seven Romanian nationals have admitted to taking part in an ATM skimming scheme operating throughout Massachusetts and other states including Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina.

Constantin Denis Hornea, 23; Maria Lazar, 19; Ludemis Hornea, 20; Claudiu Florea, 25; Denisa Bonculescu, 27; and Anamaria Margel, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly known as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices. Constantin Hornea, Lazar, and Ludemis Hornea also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy; Constantin and Ludemis Hornea also pleaded guilty to possession of device-making equipment. Florea also pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. Ion Trifu, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices and money laundering conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

In May 2017, the defendants were indicted along with five others whose whereabouts remain unknown. According to an unsealed indictment in U.S. District Court in Boston, the individuals conducted an ATM skimming operation which involved obtaining the debit card numbers and corresponding personal identification numbers of unsuspecting bank customers using an ATM and thereafter making unauthorized withdrawals from those bank customers' accounts. Authorities allege that the group obtained the debit card numbers through a skimmer installed in a machine and a small, hidden pinhole camera was used to observe the victim's input on the keypad.

After obtaining the information, cloned cards were allegedly created. Typically the suspects would withdraw the maximum amount from the card holder's account.

On the South Shore, investigators found skimmers in ATMs located in Braintree, Quincy and Weymouth. The money from the scheme was transferred across the country and into Romania and China and was sometimes used to buy more equipment for the scheme.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 15.

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