Crime & Safety

Third Suspect Admits to Role in 2010 ATM Skimming Case

Bank fraud case started with installing cameras in Cos Cob bank ATM to swipe users' PINs.

A third woman has pleaded guilty to participating in  involving several People's United Bank branches, including one in Cos Cob.

Laura Stiuca, 32, admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport.

According to prosecutors, Stiuca — a Romanian citizen living in Maspeth, N.Y. — conspired in March and April of last year to install cameras on ATMs and card swipe access machines at several branches of People's United Bank. The devices capture information on the magnetic strips of bank cards.

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In March and April 2010, Stiuca and another woman used a pin-capturing device at an ATM located at a branch of People’s United Bank in Cos Cob.  Then, between April 19 and April 22, Stiuca and a third woman used stolen bank account information to conduct unauthorized ATM withdrawals from People’s United Bank ATMs in Stamford and Darien.

On April 22, 2010, Stiuca, Sabrina Matache, 22, and Nadia Pasici, 49, were arrested by members of the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force were after the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force was alerted to activity on a counterfeit card first used in Cos Cob. assisted in the arrest.

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Investigators said the trio had about $2,000 in cash, handwritten notes with addresses of People's United locations, and other tools reportedly used in the scheme.

The three were indicted in March by a federal grand jury along with Ion Constantin, 33, who reportedly directed the women to use a pin-capturing device in Greenwich.  and are awaiting sentencing.

Stiuca is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 26. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Asst. U.S. Attorneys Douglas P. Morabito and Susan L. Wines. Greenwich Police Det. Mark Solomon is a member of the financial crimes task force which investigated the scheme.


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