E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A coordinated law enforcement operation in Los Angeles has led to the arrest of five individuals accused of using "skimmed" electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to create counterfeit cards and illegally withdraw funds meant for low-income families. The Justice Department announced the arrests, which targeted illegal aliens allegedly involved in this fraudulent activity.
Three defendants have been detained without bond, while two others are expected to appear in United States District Court. The operation involved around 70 officers monitoring ATM locations across Los Angeles to identify unauthorized withdrawals from accounts belonging to legitimate EBT beneficiaries.
Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally stated, "These defendants who are illegally in the United States targeted and stole from some of the poorest members of our community." He emphasized that such fraudulent activities undermine essential support systems for struggling families.
John Pasciucco, Acting Special Agent in Charge at HSI Los Angeles, noted that the operation aimed at transnational criminal organizations stealing from vulnerable communities and taxpayers. He assured continued efforts to protect those in need from exploitation.
Federal prosecutors have filed three criminal complaints against the five defendants for using unauthorized access devices. The accused allegedly made unauthorized withdrawals totaling up to $25,480. Among those charged are Marcel Musat, Ionut Calciu, Florian Serban, Wesley David Adrian Dimoua-Moua, and Hichem Mohamed El Mabrouk—all facing charges related to possession and use of counterfeit EBT cards.
Court documents reveal that over $126.8 million was stolen from victim EBT cards in 2024 alone. The investigation indicates that cloned cards were used for these fraudulent withdrawals, with some suspects possessing skimming devices to capture personal information from victims.
The El Camino Real Task Force is leading the investigation with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Secret Service, and various local police departments. Assistant United States Attorneys Diane Roldán, Alexander H. Tran, and Sophia Carrillo are prosecuting these cases.
