Newest Romanian EBT theft suspect is a repeat offender
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — He is the newest suspect linked to EBT benefit thefts in Kern County, 23-year-old Bogdan Boceanu from Romania.
Boceanu was found with 36 cloned EBT cards and over $4,000 in stolen cash. Part of something much bigger than the District Attorney is disclosing to the public.
'Yes, I would say both, Romanian and International crime,' said Lt. Alecio Mora with Wasco Police. 'They go all over the state committing this type of crimes.'
Investigators with the District Attorney and California Department of Social Services arrested Boceanu at the Wells Fargo bank in Delano on March 1.
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Boceanu faces felony charges including grand and identity theft, but this isn't the first time he's allegedly done this.
In July of 2024, Boceanu was arrested by the Wasco Police Department after tampering with a Bank of America ATM.
Boceanu was allegedly found with a skimming device and video camera for skimming. He posted bail and the case was not filed until January.
'We need to have more accountability. These guys can go away, leave, leave, escape, and then not be identified in the future,' said Lt. Mora. 'We need to be able to keep these guys in jail a little longer.'
Now, rearrested, he joins seven Romanians alleged to have committed card skimming fraud in Kern County, some dating back to 2023.
Five of them, have not shown up for their court dates and have outstanding warrants for their arrests.
'I think this is organized crime, they know what they're doing, they have the technology and the training to pull it off,' said Lt. Mora.
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Boceanu would be the first suspect of EBT theft case to not be allowed to post bail.
He's due back in court Thursday.
To keep your benefits safe, download the ebtEDGE app to your phone.
Learn more about it here.
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