Two Romanians Indicted On Conspiracy To Commit Bank Fraud
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, May 12, 2010, that Alexandru Razvan Serb and Mihai Popa, both Romanian nationals, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and access device fraud.
The four‑count indictment named Alexandru Razvan Serb, age 28, and Mihai Popa, age 27, as the sole defendants.
According the indictment, Serb and Popa, since 2009, conspired to steal bank account information from PNC bank customers through the use of an electronic "skimmer" designed to record customer bank account and PIN information when a customer uses an ATM machine.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 46 years in prison, a fine of $1,500,000, or both, for Alexandru Razvan Serb, and a fine of $1,250,000 and 36 years in prison, for Mihai Popa. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses, and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Both men are detained pending trial.
Agents of United States Secret Service, and law enforcement officers of the Financial Crimes Task Force of Western Pennsylvania conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. The Financial Crimes Task Force is compromised of federal, state and local law enforcement officers committed to the investigation and prosecution of persons who commit financial crimes and identity theft.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
