HOUSTON – Multiple agencies worked together to arrest five people in connection to a sophisticated fraud scheme tied to a Romanian organized crime network operating in the United States.
The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center said Elizabeta Stefan and Madalin Trifu were arrested and charged with Forgery with Intent to Defraud. Three additional suspects—Vasile Trifu, Ion Trifu, and Catalin Trifu—were also taken into custody. Vasile Trifu was arrested on charges related to ATM skimming, while Ion Trifu and Catalin Trifu were detained by Homeland Security Investigations
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Investigators say the group has been involved in vehicle theft, ATM skimming, organized retail theft, and the production of fraudulent documents. In addition, they are believed to have been involved in identity fraud, financial exploitation schemes, and other forms of financial crime.
During a search warrant execution at a Houston home on Tuesday, law enforcement found several fraudulent passports and identification cards intended for criminal use.
Court documents allege Stefan and Madalin Trifu had purchased fake Romanian passports. Madalin Trifu is also alleged to have had a fake Washington state driver’s license during a previous arrest last February.
Houston Police say they got a tip that the fake passports would be delivered to the home in a package. They also assisted in executing the search warrant.
“Financial crimes pose an evolving threat to consumers and businesses. Criminals are using fraudulent documents, payment card skimming, and social engineering tactics to deceive victims and bypass security measures, which underlines the importance of interagency collaboration in identifying, investigating, and disrupting these illicit activities,” the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center said.
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