Latest news with #Boceanu
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Another Romanian convicted for EBT theft in Kern County
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — On Friday, Bogdan Boceanu was convicted of stealing EBT benefits from needy families in Kern County. Boceanu was found with more than $4,000 in stolen cash and 36 cloned EBT cards. He will serve 16 months in a Kern County Jail. His defense accepted an indicated sentence by the Judge Elizabet Rodriguez. This marks the second conviction in the romanian crime ring stealing EBT benefits. Let's take a look back at how we got here. Bogdan Boceanu was arrested in Delano and had an outstanding warrant. Through our investigation we learned he was first arrested in July of 2024 at the Bank of America in Wasco. That was where he tried to place a skimmer in the ATM to clone cards. He posted bail and the case was not filed by the DA until January 2025. Three months later he was re-arrested at the Wells Fargo in Delano and not given bail. The first Romanian convicted was Alberto-Ionel Baran, who was given an indicated sentence of two years by Judge Gloria Cannon. At the end of his court case it was announced Baran had 175 EBT fraudulent cards that had over $121,000 in stolen benefits. Baran's sentencing is scheduled for June 3, and Boceanu's for August 22. Three Romanians accused of EBT theft are still making their way through Kern's court system, they are Norbert Karaba, Giorgio Marcelo, and Nicolae Bud. Mari-Mar Milica and Fernando Stantu are still wanted for their total stands at seven linked to EBT theft by Kern's Romanian Crime Ring. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
2 Romanians accused of EBT benefit theft held without bail
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bogdan Boceanu is the latest Romanian national to be linked to the ongoing investigation into EBT benefits stolen in Kern County, and appeared in court Thursday morning with Alberto-Ionel Baran. Alberto-Ionel Baran is one of the three Romanians to first be named by the District Attorney for this case. Boceanu was the first one not allowed bail and Thursday was his review hearing. The no bail order was kept in place. Baran had been held on a $150,000 bail, but Thursday he was put under no bail. Coroner ID's man shot, killed by deputies at Virginia Avenue Park This order was requested by prosecutors, who said they believe illegal funds might have been used to post bail. Norbert Karaba posted bail and the other two Romanians, Fernando Stantu and Mari-Mar Milica, did not show up to court and have outstanding warrants for their arrests. Boceanu is due back in court Tuesday, March 11, and Baran is back in court Tuesday, March 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
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. Suspect in abuse investigation shot, killed by deputies at Virginia Ave Park: Kern County Sheriff's Office 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. Never miss a story: Make your homepage 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Romanian EBT theft suspect appears in Superior Court
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The latest Romanian linked to skimming theft appeared in court Tuesday. Bogdan Boceanu could be the fifth Romanian directly tied to this possible international crime ring operating in Kern County. The 23-year-old was arrested Saturday, March 1, with 36 cloned EBT cards and over $4,000 in stolen cash. He was in court Tuesday and was denied bail under a law that prohibits suspected illegal funds from being used for bail. Per our investigation, this is the first time a Romanian, linked with this specific EBT theft investigation, is not allowed to post bail. This is not the first time Boceanu is alleged to have done this. Hatched! Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow welcome new eaglet In July of 2024, he was arrested in Wasco with a skimming device, a skimmer video camera and a memory SD card used to store information. The District Attorney didn't file that case until January of 2025, and Boceanu was arraigned on both cases Tuesday. Boceanu is scheduled to be back in court Thursday, March 6th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Romanian arrested with 36 cloned EBT cards, stolen funds in Delano: DA's office
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The District Attorney's Office announced Monday afternoon another Romanian man has been arrested for EBT theft. 23-year-old Bogdan Boceanu was arrested at the Wells Fargo in Delano with 36 cloned EBT cards and $4,030 stolen cash, according to the District Attorney. The evidence Boceanu was found with fits the description by investigators handling the case of Norbert Karaba. Testifying Friday in the case against Karaba, a different Romanian, lead investigator Michael Brummett with the Kern County District Attorney said thieves hand write the PIN and balance on stickers. Then, the stickers are placed on the cards used to make the fraudulent withdrawals. This way the transactions are made fast and back to back. This theft also fits the pattern of the other two EBT theft cases involving Romanians, withdrawing money from an ATM the first day of the month, all listed as transients. 'Shoot like MADD' fundraiser benefits DUI crash victims This is not the first time Boceanu is alleged to have done this. Back in July of 2024, Boceanu was arrested after he was allegedly found with access cards and a scanning device. That felony case is still pending and he's been out on bail. Fast forward eight months, he is rearrested and faces charges including grand theft, identity theft, and counterfeit transfers of EBT benefits. The DA's office also released numbers for EBT thefts in February. Kern County lost just $159,008 dollars in stolen benefits. Boceanu would be the fifth Romanian national accused of EBT theft in Kern County in the last four months. The District Attorney has not confirmed if there is a Romanian or international crime ring operating in Kern. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
