E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A former resident of the Fairfax District in Los Angeles, Sorin-Miguel Ghiorghe, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his involvement in a fraud scheme. The operation included the use of illegal skimmers on ATMs to collect data and create counterfeit debit cards with stolen account information. These cards were then used to withdraw cash from numerous victims' accounts.
The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who will also schedule a restitution hearing in the coming months. Ghiorghe had pleaded guilty in October 2024 to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of unauthorized access devices, and possession of device-making equipment.
Prosecutors believe Ghiorghe entered the United States illegally from Romania. He admitted that he and his accomplices used counterfeit cards to withdraw thousands of dollars from victims' accounts. The group targeted funds distributed by the California Department of Social Services through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts meant for low-income residents, including CalFresh and CalWorks benefits.
During a search of Ghiorghe's apartment, law enforcement found ATM-skimming equipment and EBT account numbers belonging to other individuals.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service with significant assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Max A. Shapiro prosecuted the case.
