Alleged Members of ATM Skimming Scheme Appear in Court

Two of the accused leaders of a scheme to steal account information from bank customers throughout New Jersey, New York and Connecticut by installing secret card-reading devices on ATMs were in court Wednesday for separate proceedings, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman. 

Bogdan Radu, 31, of Queens, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to charges of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. 

Marius Vintila, 31, also of Queens, was arraigned before Judge Martini after being charged in a six-count indictment on Feb.18. 

He was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to possess 15 or more counterfeit access devices, possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices, conspiracy to possess access device-making equipment and possession of access device-making equipment. 

The ATM skimming operation involving Romanian nationals living in Queens is one of the largest ever uncovered by law enforcement, according to Fishman. 

Constantin Ginga, 53, who previously pleaded guilty before Judge Martini to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, was sentenced Wednesday to 57 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date, Fishman said. On Feb. 25, 2014, another defendant, Marius Cotiga, 35, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.