A Romanian citizen has pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of fraud schemes that resulted in nearly $200,000 in losses for a major retailer across 22 states.
Bobi Covaciu, 39, admitted on Thursday to one count of wire fraud before the U.S. District Court in St. Louis. According to prosecutors, Covaciu carried out "sleight-of-hand" tactics at Target stores from February 2022 through September 2024. He would count out cash matching the purchase price but then surreptitiously reclaim some bills from cashiers, causing the retailer to lose hundreds of dollars or more per transaction.
Covaciu also returned merchandise at different locations for full refunds after shortchanging the original store. In one instance cited by authorities, he pocketed approximately $2,300 during a transaction in St. Louis and subsequently returned items at stores in Illinois and Wisconsin over the following two days.
Court documents state that Covaciu conducted at least 90 fraudulent transactions during this period, resulting in thefts totaling about $196,220 in money and property.
He is scheduled for sentencing on March 9, 2026. The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Restitution will also be ordered.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the matter.
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