LOS ANGELES — A Romanian illegal immigrant who was smuggled into the United States multiple times has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for bank fraud after Homeland Security Investigations dismantled a transnational criminal organization that drained EBT accounts belonging to vulnerable New Yorkers.
Marius Catalin Trica pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 24, 2025, to charges stemming from a scheme in which he and co-conspirators imported skimming devices and fraudulent identification documents from Romania, installed the skimmers at retailers, and used cloned cards loaded with New York victims’ EBT account numbers to withdraw cash from ATMs in Los Angeles. Trica most recently attempted to enter the United States in a Mexican ambulance in June 2025.
“Our HSI special agents are committed to not only bring criminals like this to justice, but to ensure our most vulnerable citizens are protected from the global reach of fraud,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang.
The scheme directly targeted Electronic Benefits Transfer funds meant for food and living expenses, impacting individuals who relied on those benefits for daily sustenance. HSI Los Angeles identified numerous victims whose accounts were compromised. Trica used the stolen funds to support his lifestyle while living in the United States illegally.
“We are grateful to HSI, the NYC Department of Investigation, and our oversight partners for acting swiftly to bring this person to justice,” said New York City Department of Social Services Chief Program Accountability Officer Bedros Boodanian. “Exploiting vulnerable New Yorkers for personal gain is especially harmful. The agency’s accountability office flagged this individual for HSI and worked closely with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.”
Boodanian added that “DSS takes these matters incredibly seriously and continues to stay vigilant as we identify and report concerns to the appropriate authorities. We appreciate the collaboration with our government partners at the local and national level to address the ongoing skimming crisis and mitigate its devastating impact on Americans in need.”
The investigation was led by HSI Los Angeles, with support from HSI San Diego, HSI Bucharest, the Romanian Directorate for Combating Organized Crime/Galati Organized Crime Combating Brigade, the NYC Department of Investigation, the NYC Department of Social Services, the NYPD, and the Beverly Hills Police Department. Trica’s 18-month sentence was handed down on March 6.