Thanks to a targeted sweep by Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles, a criminal illegal alien fraudster from Romania, who is tied to a transnational Romanian gang, has been sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison.
In 2025, Marius Catalin Trica pled guilty to the importation of skimming devices used to cull credit, debit, and EBT card numbers without the owner's knowledge, as well as manufacturing fake IDs in order to enact the gang's crimes against the victims, who were primarily from New York. This transnational gang installed skimmers at retail outlets in New York and used the cloned card numbers to withdraw cash from ATMs in Los Angeles.
Here's the kicker: Trica had illegally entered the United States multiple times; most recently, Trica faked facial injuries so that a Mexican ambulance could transport him across the border.
Hollywood has nothing on these characters. In Trica's too-short (in my opinion) stint in prison, perhaps he'll sell his story.
This photo shows Marius Catalin Trica’s attempt to be smuggled into the United States in an ambulance — his facial injuries are fake.
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 23, 2026
It wasn’t the first time he tried to illegally enter the U.S. and is part of an overall theme of fraudulent behavior.
His U.S. aspirations… pic.twitter.com/oTuoca3AQk
This photo shows Marius Catalin Trica’s attempt to be smuggled into the United States in an ambulance — his facial injuries are fake.
It wasn’t the first time he tried to illegally enter the U.S. and is part of an overall theme of fraudulent behavior.
His U.S. aspirations didn’t include living the American dream. Instead, he spent his time in the United States ripping off Americans. He was part of a Romanian transnational criminal organization’s crime spree that directly targeted New Yorkers with EBT cards using cloned cards and skimming devices.
Thanks to an ICE @HSI_HQ -led operation, this fraudster is headed to federal prison.
📰Read about his case in our newsroom.
A criminal illegal alien from Romania was sentenced to 18 months in prison March 6 for bank fraud. Marius Catalin Trica pleaded guilty to his crimes in federal court on Nov. 24, 2025, following a Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles-led operation that disrupted a Romanian transnational criminal organization.
Trica was smuggled into the United States multiple times. He most recently attempted to get into the United States in a Mexican ambulance in June 2025.
“Our HSI special agents are committed to not only bring criminals like this to justice, but to ensure our most vulnerable citizens are protected from the global reach of fraud,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang.
Trica and his co-conspirators imported skimming devices and fraudulent identification documents to commit their crimes. The group installed skimmers at retailers and used cloned cards with New York victims’ EBT account numbers to withdraw cash from ATMs in Los Angeles. The scheme directly targeted EBT funds, impacting vulnerable individuals who relied on these benefits for food and living expenses.
HSI Los Angeles identified numerous victims whose accounts were compromised. Trica used the stolen funds to support his lifestyle while living in the United States illegally.
“We are grateful to HSI, the NYC Department of Investigation, and our oversight partners for acting swiftly to bring this person to justice,” said New York City Department of Social Services Chief Program Accountability Officer Bedros Boodanian. “Exploiting vulnerable New Yorkers for personal gain is especially harmful. The agency’s accountability office flagged this individual for HSI and worked closely with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. DSS takes these matters incredibly seriously and continues to stay vigilant as we identify and report concerns to the appropriate authorities. We appreciate the collaboration with our government partners at the local and national level to address the ongoing skimming crisis and mitigate its devastating impact on Americans in need.”
One of the more insidious methods of fraud involves the use of skimming devices, which are small electronic devices that capture card information from unsuspecting users. These devices can be discreetly attached to EBT card readers at grocery stores or ATMs, allowing fraudsters to steal users' data without their knowledge.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, with assists from HSI San Diego, HSI Bucharest (who knew?), the Romanian Directorate for Combating Organized Crime/Galati Organized Crime Combating Brigade, the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York City Department of Social Services, the New York Police Department, and the Beverly Hills Police Department.
It is noteworthy that just this one investigation mounted on the West Coast served to uncover a miasma of fraud that stretched to the East Coast and across the ocean. Between the White House Fraud Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the all-of-government approach of the FBI and the Treasury Department involvement, the walls continue to close in on fraudsters and their enablers. This is good news for Americans, 60 percent of whom have been victims of fraud or know of someone who has been a victim.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
Help us fight back against the Democrats and Soros-backed DAs that refuse to enforce our laws to hold criminals accountable. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member