Bulgarian National Pleads Guilty to ATM Skimming

BOSTON – A Bulgarian national pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to create counterfeit ATM cards and to withdraw money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting customers.

Georgi Kanev, 33, a Bulgarian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for May 26, 2021.

According to court documents, Kanev and a co-conspirator installed skimmers and cameras on two Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank ATMs over a period of approximately four weeks in July and August 2013. The devices allowed the defendants to obtain magnetic strip information from ATM customers as well as obtain their PIN numbers. The information was then used to create counterfeit ATM cards to withdraw funds from the compromised accounts.

The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud provides for a sentence of up to 90 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Frederick J. Regan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Edgartown Police Department and the Oak Bluffs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.