Trio Accused of Stealing Millions from Low-Income Families and EBT Recipients in California

In a shocking case, three individuals are facing charges for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from EBT beneficiaries and low-income families across California, according to federal authorities.

The suspects, identified as Petrica Mosneagu (44), Ionut Sopirla (38), and Virgil Tudorascu (42), were apprehended with the assistance of the United States Secret Service (USSS) and federal law enforcement from another country.

The arrests of Mosneagu and Sopirla took place on Tuesday afternoon in Oakland, while Tudorascu was detained on Thursday morning in the same city. All three were then booked into the Santa Rita Jail and have been denied bail.

It is alleged that the trio, all hailing from Romania, engaged in the unauthorized withdrawal of cash using stolen EBT account information obtained from low-income families.

The funds were accessed by using cloned cards with legitimate EBT details, which the suspects acquired by skimming the victims’ cards at ATM or point-of-sale terminals.

According to federal authorities, the suspects are believed to have siphoned off nearly $23 million, impacting EBT beneficiaries who rely on the funds for essential expenses such as food and household items.

The investigation, led by the USSS, spanned over 14 months and involved cooperation from various law enforcement agencies, including local police departments such as Berkeley, Oakland, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

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Additionally, Homeland Security and the San Francisco Human Services Agency-Special Investigations Unit played significant roles in the probe.

Collaboration with international counterparts, including the USSS in Bucharest and the Romanian National Police, further aided in the investigation process.

Scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, the accused individuals could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the charges brought against them.