In Santa Ana, California, a countywide operation has led to the arrest of 48 individuals linked to Romanian organized criminal networks. These suspects are allegedly involved in skimming operations targeting recipients of public assistance funds, intended for essential needs such as diapers, formula, and food, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer and law enforcement officials who disclosed this information at a recent press conference. Among the apprehended individuals is Florin Duduianu, a high-profile Romanian criminal indicted by a federal grand jury for fraudulently accessing government assistance funds.
The state of California faced substantial losses, surpassing $108 million in CalWORKs benefits (Cash aid to dependent families) in 2023. Skimming-related losses occurred predominantly in the first five days of each month, specifically targeting CalWORKs cash-aid benefits distributed to California residents through Electronic Benefit Transfer Accounts (EBT).
In response to the arrests, District Attorney Todd Spitzer and law enforcement officials are urging Governor Gavin Newsom to implement chip technology for EBT cards. This recommendation aligns with the approach taken during the issuance of the Middle Class Tax Refund in October 2022, involving chipped debit cards to mitigate fraud associated with rising gas prices and inflation. The adoption of chip technology is seen as a preventive measure against the cloning of EBT cards and unauthorized fund withdrawals.
Since May 1, 2023, investigators from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, alongside 21 law enforcement agencies, have recovered over $185,000 in cash and identified 491 cloned public assistance cards, potentially representing $471,360 in stolen funds. Operation EBT Integrity, spearheaded by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Public Assistance Division, played a pivotal role in these efforts.
Despite an overall increase of more than $2 million in EBT funds stolen statewide between January 2023 and January 2024, Orange County witnessed a significant 54.97% decrease in EBT funds stolen. This reduction is attributed to concerted law enforcement efforts, resulting in Orange County’s share of the state’s total stolen funds dropping from 13.54% in January 2023 to 4.61% in January 2024.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the non-victimless nature of these crimes, highlighting the impact on single mothers and hardworking individuals relying on public assistance. The arrested suspects are accused of participating in an organized effort involving the installation of skimming devices, with the aim of intercepting data from swiped access cards. Many of these suspects entered the United States through illegal border crossings, posing challenges for prosecutors due to limited criminal history information.
Notably, the stolen funds are allegedly funding organized crime activities, allowing perpetrators to lead lavish lifestyles, a stark contrast to the struggles faced by the genuine recipients. A portion of the stolen funds is reportedly being used to purchase luxury items, including cars, and funneled to organized crime families in Romania.
In addition to adult suspects, several juveniles under the age of 14 were also arrested. Charges filed against the suspects range from felonies related to theft, identity theft, and possession of fraudulent documents. Operation EBT Integrity involved collaboration between various law enforcement agencies, including the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and multiple police departments.
The success of Operation EBT Integrity has prompted ongoing efforts to combat EBT fraud across Orange County. District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed pride in the collaborative achievements of the District Attorney’s Office and allied law enforcement agencies, calling for technological upgrades to safeguard public funds and protect the rightful recipients.