A Romanian citizen has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a scheme that skimmed tens of thousands of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards in California and New York. Catalin-Marius Graur, 43, who last lived in Hollywood, received the sentence from United States District Judge Mark Scarsi. In addition to the prison term, Graur was ordered to pay $165,697 in restitution.
Graur pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2020 but did not leave when required. According to authorities, Graur traveled throughout Los Angeles and the Inland Empire installing skimming devices at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals. These devices recorded account information from people using those machines.
Graur was arrested in June 2024 at an Airbnb rental apartment in New York City. At the time of his arrest, he had more than $37,000 in cash and 1,488 stolen access device numbers. Investigators also found that Graur had sent over 36,000 stolen EBT card numbers to an accomplice during a three-year period.
Officials said Graur worked with several members of a transnational criminal organization based in Romania. The EBT cards targeted by Graur are used by low-income households to pay for housing, food, and other basic needs.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI, United States Secret Service, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Social Services, and Romanian National Police.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown from the Major Frauds Section prosecuted the case.
