Two Arraigned in Credit Card Skimming, Fraud Ring in Burlington and Bedford

BURLINGTON, MA — Two men were arraigned on Oct. 28 on over 40 fraud charges in connection with an alleged credit card skimming and fraud ring which took place in Bedford and Burlington, according to a release from the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.

Antonio Testone, 30, of Italy and Bogdan Ionut Bujor, 28, of Romania were arraigned on multiple charges including money laundering, credit card fraud, larceny and more. Testone was ordered held on $100,000 bail, and Bujor was held on $250,000 for two separate incidents respectively, according to the District Attorney's office.

“As our office continues to see an increase in the number of credit card frauds and skimming devices across Middlesex County, the arrest of these two defendants is extremely critical in helping to protect the public from becoming victims of these types of schemes,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan in a statement. “Through the work of the Burlington and Bedford Police Departments, we were able to apprehend these two suspects for their alleged involvement in a multi-bank fraud potentially protecting many more people from being victimized by this large scale scheme.”

The District Attorney's office indicated that on the morning of Oct. 27, several branches of a local-area bank reported incidents of fraudulent transactions. The banks were located on Mall Road and Cambridge Street in Burlington, as well as in Bedford.

Police confirmed through still photos and videos that the same suspects were responsible for the alleged thefts at all three banks. Investigators recovered over 120 fraudulent credit cards, documents appearing to be ATM card PINs, and over $150,000 in cash.

“No community is immune to credit card fraud and we have unfortunately seen an increase in these types of scams throughout the state,” Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent said in a statement. “We will continue to be vigilant in investigating and arresting those who profit from this illegal activity.”

According to the release, Testone was arraigned in Concord District Court on Friday, October 28, 2016 and was charged with one count of money laundering, one count of conspiracy, six counts of uttering a forged credit card, two counts of card fraud over $250, one count of electronic funds transfer violation over $100, six counts of possession of a blank credit card and one count of credit card fraud under $250. The next hearing in his case will be Nov. 14.

Bujor was arraigned in Woburn District Court on Friday, October 28, 2016 and charged with seven counts of larceny over $250, three counts of larceny under $250, seven counts of credit card fraud over $250, two counts of credit card fraud under $250, money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one count of an electronic fund transfer violation over $100 in connection with an alleged bank fraud that took place on Mall Road in Burlington.

The Romanian man was also charged with one count of money laundering, one count of conspiracy, nine counts of larceny over $250, three counts of larceny under $250, one count of conspiracy, one count of violating an electronic fund transfer over $100, nine counts of credit card fraud over $250 and three counts of credit card fraud under $250 in connection with an alleged bank fraud that took place on Cambridge Street in Burlington, according to the DA's release. The next hearing in his case will be Nov. 22.

“These arrests are the result of a multi-agency effort to remove two alleged scammers from our communities,” Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno said in a statement. “I commend Bedford and Burlington Police Officers for their diligence and hard work in bringing this case to justice.”

Bojur pictured left, Testone pictured right. Images via the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.