Ten people have been charged with installing skimmers on point-of-sale machines in five New Jersey counties, as well as New York and Pennsylvania, to steal electronic benefit card information, according to authorities.
According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the group used the information gathered starting in February to get victims’ Electronic Benefits Transfer account information.
The thieves then used the stolen information to create their own debit cards, which they used to buy large amounts of energy drinks and infant formula at retail establishments. Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Somerset, and Union Counties in New Jersey host the businesses. Some of the establishments are located in New York and Pennsylvania.
Victims have already lost more than $25,000.
Several of those indicted are from Highland Park, but the prosecutor’s office did not immediately know the ages and hometowns of each alleged thief.
Highland Park police and the prosecutor’s office conducted searches and recovered more than 100 EBT cards with PIN and amount stickers.
According to officials, investigators discovered current skimmer and encoder devices, as well as stolen merchandise.
All are charged with various counts of trafficking in personal identifying information, theft, and financial assistance of illegal behavior.
According to the prosecutor’s office and the Middlesex County jail, the following people have been charged
- Maru Dumitru, 33,
- Stefan Lautaru, 20
- Boby-Stefan Degeratu
- Gabriela Ilie
- Claudiu Padeanu, 29
- Mensi Dumitru, 31
- Demetria Costache, 28
- Albert Enciu
- Florin Badea
- Gheorghe Miclescu
Maru Dumitru and Lautaru are still being kept in jail. According to jail records, both have been charged with money laundering, credit card offenses, trafficking, personal identifying information theft, and two counts of conspiracy.
Padeanu, Costache, and Mensi Dumitru were released from custody last week. Highland Park police detained these five people.
The identities of the other people charged were unknown.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Highland Park police Det. Brian O’Mara at 732-572-3800 or Middlesex County Prosecutor Det. Greg MacDonald at 732-745-3300.
