A Romanian national, Andrei Fagaras, age 35, was sentenced to time served for access device fraud in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2025. Fagaras had been in custody since November 20, 2024.
Court documents indicate that on November 13 and 14, 2024, Fagaras and two others possessed credit and debit card skimmers at three retail locations in the region. They installed these devices on point-of-sale machines to capture payment information.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation coordinates resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Matthew Wilkins, Acting Special Agent in Charge with the USDA Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), stated: “We appreciate the collaboration with our federal and local 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 to protect the integrity of those programs.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including Special Agents from the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; United States Secret Service; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; New Orleans Police Department; Harahan Police Department; and Scott Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero is prosecuting the case.
