01-03-2025
Suspects in EBT fraud cases face judge, arrest warrants issued for 2 others after they fail to appear in court
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Skimming is a sophisticated and well thought-out crime. Averaging two transactions per minute, Romanian nationals are allegedly coming to Kern County, draining EBT benefit accounts, and then fleeing.
'We received a suspicious activity alert regarding EBT cards,' said Michael Brummett, lead investigator for the case against Norbert Karaba — a Romanian national arrested with thousands of dollars.
'Did you recover $63,952 dollars in cash?' Prosecutor Anthony Yim asked Brummett.
Brummett: 'Yes.'
Yim: 'Did you recover 78 access cards?'
Brummett: 'Yes.'
EBT account information can be copied to a card with a magnetic strip, such as gift card, hotel card, even a library card.
Kern County District Attorney warns of EBT fraud after millions in benefits lost
Testimony in this case provides a better idea of how theft transactions can happen so fast.
'The number is the balance to the EBT card,' said Brummett.
The stickers on the cards recovered in this case have handwritten numbers, detailing the PIN and balance for each card. This way, all transactions are made continuously and back to back.
'How many transactions were conducted per minute using the cards that you recovered?' Tim asked.
Brummett: 'Approximately one to two.'
The transactions were fast, but there were so many of them that law enforcement was able to catch up. The California Department of Social Services flagged the withdrawals and alerted local law enforcement.
'It's an alert that CDSS gives us through email,' said Brummett.
Mathias William Schmuck-Wakefield, an investigator for the state assigned to EBT fraud and theft protection, explained shimming devices are deep inserts inside card readers like ATMs or gas pumps.
California issuing new EBT chip/tap cards as $2.5 million in cash aid stolen from Kern County residents
Also due in court were Romanian nationals Fernando Stantu, Mari-Mar Milica, and Alberto-Ionel Baran allegedly caught with 48 cloned EBT cards and $15,702 stolen cash.
Only Baran appeared in court, Stantu and Milica failed to appear. Arrest warrants were issued for them. Baran is set to appear back in court in May.
Officials warn recipients to change their EBT card pin number the last day of the month, or the day before benefits are deposited.
This is to prevent theft if information has been stolen through skimming devices. You can learn more about the ebtEDGE app at this link.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
