Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that DORU ADAMESC, a/k/a “Petru Golban,” (“ADAMESC”), age 32, a national of Romania, pled guilty on February 13, 2025 before Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, to conspiracy to commit access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2).
According to court documents, on May 19, 2024 and May 20, 2024, ADAMESC, and a co-conspirator, purchased items at retail establishments so that they could approach the credit card reading machines. ADAMESC’s co-conspirator then distracted the cashiers while ADAMESC covertly installed card skimmers on the credit card reading machines. ADAMESC was arrested on June 5, 2024, when he returned to one of the stores to attempt to retrieve a skimming device. A search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of two large magnets, commonly used to activate the Bluetooth capabilities on skimming devices. ADAMESC’s cellular phones were seized; one phone contained a photo of approximately 60 gift cards spread out on a counter. Such gift cards are typically re-encoded with stolen card numbers in order to make fraudulent purchases or withdrawals.
Law enforcement officers also seized six credit card skimmers before ADAMESC was able to retrieve them. These skimmers captured approximately 421 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (“EBT”) cards.
ADAMESC faces up to 7.5 years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. Sentencing before Chief Judge Brown has been scheduled for May 22, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Special Agents of the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; Special Agents with the United States Secret Service; Deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; Deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; Deputies with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office; and Officers of the New Orleans Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.