Romanian Brothers Plead Guilty in SNAP Fraud
Two Romanian brothers living illegally in the United States have pleaded guilty to participating in a multistate fraud scheme that stole more than $760,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by cloning Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and using the stolen benefits to purchase goods for resale, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The case is part of the Justice Department’s broader effort to combat public benefits fraud through its newly established National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The defendants, Marian Ovidiu Dumitru, 37, and Catalin Dumitru, 39, both Romanian nationals residing unlawfully in the United States, each pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud. According to prosecutors, the brothers participated in an organized identity theft ring that targeted recipients of federal food assistance benefits across several states between July 2024 and August 2025.
Court records show the fraud scheme relied on skimming devices secretly installed at ATMs, fuel pumps, and other payment terminals. These devices captured account information stored on victims’ EBT cards. Once the card data had been stolen, members of the conspiracy transferred the information onto counterfeit magnetic-stripe cards, gift cards, and other access devices that could be used like legitimate SNAP cards.
Investigators said the counterfeit cards were then used at large warehouse membership stores in North Carolina to purchase thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise, including baby formula, coffee, candy, energy drinks, and other high-demand consumer goods. Authorities alleged the products were later transported and resold for profit, allowing the defendants to convert stolen government benefits into cash.
According to the Justice Department, the brothers used counterfeit cards containing stolen SNAP information from beneficiaries in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and other states. Prosecutors cited transactions totaling more than $15,600 at one warehouse club in Gastonia, North Carolina, and more than $19,000 at another warehouse club in Pineville, North Carolina. Overall, investigators estimated that the conspiracy defrauded SNAP programs of more than $760,000 and victimized more than 10 individuals, some of whom experienced substantial financial hardship after losing access to their food assistance benefits.
When law enforcement searched the defendants, investigators discovered they possessed 15 or more counterfeit bank cards encoded with stolen SNAP EBT account information, along with blank magnetic-stripe cards used to manufacture additional counterfeit payment cards. Prosecutors said the evidence demonstrated the brothers’ active participation in the broader identity theft and fraud operation.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina strongly condemned the scheme, saying the defendants exploited some of the nation’s most vulnerable residents.
“These individuals came to the United States illegally and preyed on some of our most vulnerable citizens—those receiving SNAP benefits,” Ferguson said. “They stole benefits from those who actually need them and then resold products bought with those benefits for their own profit.”
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, who leads the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, said public benefits fraud remains a major enforcement priority. He warned that the department will aggressively pursue anyone who steals taxpayer-funded assistance intended for families in need.
Each brother now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Prosecutors did not indicate whether additional defendants involved in the broader identity theft ring have entered guilty pleas or remain under investigation.
The case highlights the growing problem of EBT card skimming across the United States. Criminal organizations increasingly install hidden devices on payment terminals to steal benefit card information, allowing thieves to drain SNAP accounts before recipients can access their monthly food assistance. Federal and state agencies have reported a sharp rise in these schemes in recent years, prompting increased investments in chip-enabled EBT technology and enhanced fraud detection systems.
The prosecution also reflects the Justice Department’s expanded focus on large-scale fraud involving government assistance programs. Since launching the National Fraud Enforcement Division earlier this year, federal officials have announced several major investigations targeting healthcare fraud, financial fraud, and public benefits theft. Authorities say protecting taxpayer-funded assistance programs remains a key enforcement priority as organized criminal groups continue targeting vulnerable populations through increasingly sophisticated identity theft operations.
⚖️ Key Legal Outcome
- Romanian brothers Marian Ovidiu Dumitru and Catalin Dumitru pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
- Prosecutors say the scheme stole more than $760,000 in SNAP benefits across multiple states.
- The fraud relied on skimming devices and counterfeit EBT cards to steal government food assistance benefits.
- Investigators recovered numerous counterfeit payment cards encoded with stolen SNAP account information.
- Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.
📌 Why It Matters
- Highlights the growing threat of EBT card skimming and identity theft.
- Demonstrates the DOJ’s increased focus on protecting public assistance programs.
- Shows how organized fraud rings target vulnerable SNAP recipients.
- Reinforces federal efforts to combat large-scale benefits fraud.
- Serves as a warning that wire fraud involving government programs carries severe criminal penalties.
