Romanian National Pleads Guilty to $507,916 EBT Fraud Scheme

A 39-year-old Romanian national has admitted guilt in a U.S. federal court for defrauding the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program of over $507,916, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California [1]. The individual, identified as Marius Marian, orchestrated a sophisticated scheme beginning in March 2024, during which he installed skimming devices on ATMs and point-of-sale terminals to capture card information. He then created counterfeit cards and withdrew funds from ATMs in Northern California [1]. The scheme targeted the EBT accounts of over 601 individuals who depend on the benefits for necessities such as food, rent, and medical expenses.

Marian admitted to causing financial hardship for at least 25 victims, with the unauthorized withdrawals totaling $507,916. The defendant had initially intended to extract $611,845 from the program. In addition to the EBT fraud, Marian also pleaded guilty to making false statements on an asylum application and to illegal reentry into the U.S. following a previous felony conviction [1]. He concealed both his prior deportation and a 2019 bank fraud conviction in the asylum application [1]. The illegal reentry charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while the EBT-related and bank fraud charges could lead to a maximum of 30 years, and the asylum fraud charge up to 20 years [1].

Scheduled for sentencing on October 20, 2025, the case underscores the vulnerability of government assistance programs to exploitation. The use of advanced skimming technology and large-scale account compromise reflects the coordinated and organized nature of the fraud. This incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced monitoring, stronger security measures, and improved consumer education regarding EBT card safety [1].

Source:

[1] Scammer Steals $507916 From US Benefits Program ...

https://dailyhodl.com/2025/08/06/scammer-steals-507916-from-us-benefits-program-leaving-dozens-of-families-in-financial-ruin-doj/