Show-Me State Times

Five Romanian nationals have been sentenced in St. Louis federal court for their roles in a scheme to install skimming devices on area ATMs and steal bank account information from customers.

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Mihai Vlaicu, 48, and Mihai Florin Marinescu, 38, to two years in prison each. Laurentiu Miguel Ivan, 34, Nelu Nae, 37, and Venera Isabelle Dumitru, 28, received sentences equal to the time they had already served while awaiting trial. All five are expected to be deported after completing their sentences or resolving any other pending cases elsewhere in the United States.

All defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. A sixth person charged in the case, Ianus Nita, 53, remains at large.

According to court documents, Vlaicu and Marinescu began installing skimming devices on ATMs around January 2024. They targeted machines in Clayton and Frontenac and used cloned cards to attempt cash withdrawals. Marinescu also attempted an unsuccessful installation on an ATM in south St. Louis County before successfully placing a device on another ATM in Wildwood. On May 28 of that year, Marinescu and Nae installed a skimming device on an ATM in St. Louis; law enforcement discovered and removed it soon after.

The group operated out of an Airbnb rental in St. Louis County where investigators found evidence including a laptop with hundreds of videos showing customers entering PINs at compromised ATMs. Police also recovered skimming equipment, tools for installation, significant amounts of cash, and numerous gift cards from the residence.

Authorities determined that the conspirators stole approximately $5,200 from eleven victims during their operation. Judge Pitlyk ordered restitution for the stolen funds.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI along with several local police departments: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Webster Groves Police Department, Clayton Police Department and Frontenac Police Department—with support from the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuted the case.

"The FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Webster Groves Police Department, the Clayton Police Department and the Frontenac Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the St. Louis County Police Department," according to officials involved.

"Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuted the case," authorities said.