The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) announced that it played a pivotal role in averting potential losses exceeding $5.2 million for victims following a crackdown in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
On Saturday, law enforcement officials apprehended two Romanian nationals after executing a search warrant at one of the suspects’ residences, where they discovered a fully operational facility for manufacturing credit card skimmers.
TDLR reported that the individuals, identified as 34-year-old Petruta Camelia Ciuperca and 34-year-old Alexandru Constantin, were actively engaged in the fabrication and assembly of skimming devices intended for use on ATMs.
Authorities confiscated numerous altered credit cards embedded with stolen personal information, around $16,000 in cash, along with various tools and equipment utilized in the production of skimming devices.
Both Ciuperca and Constantin were subsequently processed at the Dallas County jail on Saturday.
According to jail documentation, Ciuperca faces charges of:
– Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
– Fraud Possession/Use of Credit or Debit Card >$50
– Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B <1g
– Unauthorized Interception/Use/Disclosure of Wire/Oral Electronic Communication
– Fraudulent Impersonation to Obtain Credit
Meanwhile, records indicate that Constantin is charged with:
– Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
– Fraud Possession/Use of Credit or Debit Card >$50
– Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B <1g
– Unauthorized Interception/Use/Disclosure of Wire/Oral Electronic Communication
Ciuperca’s bail has been set at $120,000, while Constantin’s bail is established at $76,500.
Additionally, jail records confirm that both individuals were residing in the United States unlawfully.
The TDLR revealed that authorities are actively pursuing a third suspect whose identity remains undisclosed.
“This case underscores the vital importance of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against financial crimes,” remarked Special Agent Jerry Alvarez from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center. “Our coordinated efforts have substantially disrupted an organization that posed a significant risk to both individuals and businesses across Texas.”
