Latest news with #BogdanBoceanu
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Kern County prosecutors say Romanian church is behind bailout of alleged EBT thieves
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — During a bail review on Tuesday, for defendant Bogdan Boceanu, Judge Andrew B. Kendall maintained his order denying bail. 'He's caught at DHS with 36 cloned EBT cards…he's victimizing the most vulnerable members of our community, people who rely on those EBT funds to be in their account the first of every month,' said Judge Andrew B. Kendall. 'Mr. Torres, this is not a crime of violence, but it's difficult to imagine a more harmful kind of theft. Taking on the most vulnerable people in our community.' During a bail review for defendant Bogdan Boceanu, Judge Andrew B. Kendall maintained his order denying bail, and was doubtful Boceanu would show up to his court proceedings. 'He had a felony warrant in SF021771A, so he's been caught doing this at least two times. There's a continued investigation, he may or may not be involved in other thefts involving EBT cards,' said Judge Kendall. 'The court finds there is clear evidence that he's a danger to the public. Court finds clear, convincing evidence that he's a flight risk…set his bail at no bail.' Kern County Supervisors were not informed of ongoing EBT theft by District Attorney's office Judge Kendall said Bogdan's bail sponsor being in Riverside shows he lacks ties to Kern County. Prosecutor Anthony Yim said two other Romanian defendants, who have failed to appear, had the same bail sponsor. 'Now we have the defendant here who actually has the same source of bail, and the same sponsorship of every defendant that this court has given bail to,' said Yim. 'Which would be the Green Solution Environmental Services out of Riverside, California and the Romanian Gypsy Church of Riverside, California.' Norbert Karaba would be one of the defendants Yim referred to, bailed by the church. Karaba was also arraigned on Tuesday for six felony counts, including grand theft and money laundering. Karaba is back in court on May 16. Boceanu is due in court this Friday, March 14. 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.
