Charlotte, NC – Two Romanian brothers living unlawfully in the United States have pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges after prosecutors said they orchestrated a multistate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud scheme that stole more than $760,000 in benefits from victims across several states.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Marian Ovidiu Dumitru, 37, and Catalin Dumitru, 39, entered guilty pleas Thursday in the Western District of North Carolina. Federal authorities allege the brothers were members of an identity theft ring that targeted SNAP recipients in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and other states between July 2024 and August 2025.
Scheme used stolen EBT card data
Investigators said the defendants and their co-conspirators installed skimming devices at ATMs, fuel pumps, and other locations to capture data from Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used to distribute SNAP benefits. The stolen information was then transferred onto counterfeit bank cards, gift cards, and other access devices.
Authorities said the counterfeit cards were used to make thousands of dollars in purchases at membership warehouse clubs, buying bulk quantities of coffee, candy, energy drinks, baby formula, and other merchandise that was later transported and resold for profit.
According to court records, the brothers used counterfeit cards containing stolen SNAP EBT information from Massachusetts and New Jersey to purchase more than $15,600 in merchandise at a warehouse club in Gastonia, North Carolina, and more than $19,000 at another warehouse club in Pineville, North Carolina.
Federal officials condemn benefit theft
“The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.”
“These individuals came to the United States illegally and preyed on some of our most vulnerable citizens—those receiving SNAP benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “They stole benefits from those who actually need them and then resold products bought with those benefits for their own profit. We will use the full force of the federal government to hold accountable those who exploit taxpayer funded programs and victimize citizens on government assistance.”
Court records also state investigators recovered 15 or more counterfeit and unauthorized bank cards encoded with stolen SNAP EBT account information, along with blank magnetic stripe cards intended for use in the scheme. Prosecutors said the fraud affected more than 10 victims, with some suffering substantial financial hardship.
The brothers each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled, and any sentence will be determined by a federal judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and state and local law enforcement partners.
Key Points
- Two Romanian brothers pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a multistate SNAP benefits theft scheme.
- Prosecutors say more than $760,000 in SNAP benefits were stolen using counterfeit EBT cards created from skimmed account data.
- The defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing to be scheduled at a later date.
