Romanian National Pleads Guilty to ATM Skimming Fraud

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that MIHAI ALEXANDRU DINU, age 41, of Romania, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud related to the use of ATM “skimming” devices.

According to court records, in January of 2015, the United States Secret Service and the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force began investigating the unauthorized collection of debit card numbers through the installation of “skimming devices” on various ATM machines and the subsequent illegal use of fake debit cards in the Eastern District of Louisiana.  In March of this year, DINU and another man were captured on surveillance video using fake debit cards to withdraw funds from three local bank accounts.  Subsequently, DINU admitted to investigators that he had illegally entered the United States and joined in with a group of individuals who used fake passports and fake driver’s licenses to travel within the United States for the purpose of making the illegal ATM withdrawals.  DINU also participated in a similar ATM skimming conspiracy in Virginia prior to arriving in Louisiana.

DINU faces a maximum sentence of thirty (30) years in prison, a maximum of $250,000 in fines, and up to three (3) years of supervised release.  U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown set sentencing on  September 8, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Agents from the United States Secret Service and the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force, along with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Carter Guice are in charge of the prosecution.