The case of Marius Catalin Trica shows how a transnational Romanian criminal network used skimming devices and fake IDs to prey on vulnerable Americans, moving stolen EBT and bank funds across state lines and borders; Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles led an operation that exposed the scheme, resulting in Trica’s guilty plea and an 18-month federal sentence. This article lays out the facts of the investigation, the criminal methods used, the cross-border smuggling details, law enforcement statements, and the broader implications for protecting benefit recipients and retail payment systems.
In 2025, Marius Catalin Trica pleaded guilty to importing skimming devices and manufacturing fraudulent identification to enable a coordinated fraud operation that targeted primarily New York residents. The group installed skimmers at retail locations to capture card data, cloned the information, and then used those cloned cards to withdraw cash from ATMs in Los Angeles. Trica was sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison after a targeted sweep by Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles disrupted the ring.
Investigators determined the scheme focused on EBT accounts, siphoning benefits meant for vulnerable Americans who rely on assistance for food and living expenses. The stolen card numbers were used to generate cloned cards that allowed cash withdrawals far from the original point of compromise, demonstrating the national scope of the operation. HSI Los Angeles identified numerous victims whose accounts had been compromised during the conspiracy.
Trica’s border conduct stands out: he illegally entered the United States multiple times and most recently used a fabricated injury to be smuggled across the border inside a Mexican ambulance. That audacious maneuver involved faking facial injuries so an ambulance would transport him into the country, an act agents documented and used to illustrate a pattern of fraud. Law enforcement pointed to these illegal entries as part of an overall theme of deliberate, criminal behavior meant to sustain a life built on stolen proceeds.
This photo shows Marius Catalin Trica’s attempt to be smuggled into the United States in an ambulance — his facial injuries are fake.
https://x.com/ICEgov/status/2069375087027838987
It wasn’t the first time he tried to illegally enter the U.S. and is part of an overall theme of fraudulent behavior.
His U.S. aspirations didn’t include living the American dream. Instead, he spent his time in the United States ripping off Americans. He was part of a Romanian transnational criminal organization’s crime spree that directly targeted New Yorkers with EBT cards using cloned cards and skimming devices.
Thanks to an ICE @HSI_HQ -led operation, this fraudster is headed to federal prison.
📰Read about his case in our newsroom.
Homeland Security Investigations led the probe with assistance from multiple HSI offices and international partners, illustrating a coordinated approach to dismantling cross-border organized crime. HSI San Diego, HSI Bucharest, and Romanian authorities contributed to the inquiry, while local partners helped track the domestic impact. New York City agencies, including investigative and social services units, and municipal police assisted in identifying victims and documenting the financial harm.
A criminal illegal alien from Romania was sentenced to 18 months in prison March 6 for bank fraud. Marius Catalin Trica pleaded guilty to his crimes in federal court on Nov. 24, 2025, following a Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles-led operation that disrupted a Romanian transnational criminal organization.
Trica was smuggled into the United States multiple times. He most recently attempted to get into the United States in a Mexican ambulance in June 2025.
“Our HSI special agents are committed to not only bring criminals like this to justice, but to ensure our most vulnerable citizens are protected from the global reach of fraud,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang.
Trica and his co-conspirators imported skimming devices and fraudulent identification documents to commit their crimes. The group installed skimmers at retailers and used cloned cards with New York victims’ EBT account numbers to withdraw cash from ATMs in Los Angeles. The scheme directly targeted EBT funds, impacting vulnerable individuals who relied on these benefits for food and living expenses.
HSI Los Angeles identified numerous victims whose accounts were compromised. Trica used the stolen funds to support his lifestyle while living in the United States illegally.
“We are grateful to HSI, the NYC Department of Investigation, and our oversight partners for acting swiftly to bring this person to justice,” said New York City Department of Social Services Chief Program Accountability Officer Bedros Boodanian. “Exploiting vulnerable New Yorkers for personal gain is especially harmful. The agency’s accountability office flagged this individual for HSI and worked closely with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. DSS takes these matters incredibly seriously and continues to stay vigilant as we identify and report concerns to the appropriate authorities. We appreciate the collaboration with our government partners at the local and national level to address the ongoing skimming crisis and mitigate its devastating impact on Americans in need.”
One of the more insidious methods of fraud involves the use of skimming devices, which are small electronic devices that capture card information from unsuspecting users. These devices can be discreetly attached to EBT card readers at grocery stores or ATMs, allowing fraudsters to steal users’ data without their knowledge.
Skimming devices remain a persistent threat to point-of-sale and ATM systems because they capture data silently and allow criminals to monetize stolen information across borders. Fraud rings pair that hardware with manufactured identity documents to move physical cards and cash around the country, making detection and victim recovery more complex. The Trica case shows how these layered tactics can be used to repeatedly victimize people who depend on assistance programs.
Local and federal agencies emphasized interagency cooperation as key to the arrest and prosecution, with HSI and New York City partners coordinating to identify victims and build the case. Officials highlighted the need for continued vigilance by retailers, benefit administrators, and consumers to detect skimming attempts and report suspicious activity. The investigation also underscores how international law enforcement relationships can help trace the source of devices and documents used in transnational schemes.
The sentence imposed on Trica closes one chapter of this conspiracy but leaves open the broader work of stopping similar rings that exploit payment systems and social benefit programs. The case is a reminder that criminal networks can be mobile, sophisticated, and willing to cross borders to profit from fraud. Protecting vulnerable Americans requires continued attention, stronger prevention measures at points of sale, and coordinated enforcement across jurisdictions.
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