A Romanian national, Doru Adamesc, also known as "Petru Golban," was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the sentencing on June 26, 2025. Adamesc had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.
Court documents reveal that in May 2024, Adamesc and a co-conspirator purchased items at retail establishments to gain access to credit card reading machines. While his accomplice distracted cashiers, Adamesc installed card skimmers on these machines. He was arrested on June 5, 2024, when he returned to retrieve one of the skimming devices. A search of his vehicle uncovered two large magnets used for activating Bluetooth capabilities on skimming devices and a phone containing a photo of approximately 60 gift cards typically re-encoded with stolen card numbers.
Law enforcement seized six credit card skimmers from Adamesc before he could retrieve them. These devices captured around 421 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card numbers.
Matthew Wilkins, USDA-OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge, stated: “We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation. Those who are involved in fraud regarding USDA taxpayer funded programs will be investigated by our office and brought to justice to protect the integrity of those programs.”
St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith commented: “This case is an excellent example of law enforcement professionals on the federal, state and local levels working together... Installing skimming devices to steal innocent people’s financial information is not only illegal — it’s a violation of trust."
U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown imposed a sentence including three years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended several agencies for their role in investigating this matter: United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; United States Secret Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office; and New Orleans Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni led the prosecution from the Financial Crimes Unit.
