The United States Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of Louisiana issued a press release about the sentencing of a Romanian national who was arrested one week after installing skimming devices at three locations in Louisiana:
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ANDREI FAGARAS (“FAGARAS”), age 35, a Romanian national, was sentenced on December 2, 2025 for access device fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(4). FAGARAS, who has been in custody since November 20, 2024, was sentenced to time served.
According to court documents, on November 13, 2024 and November 14, 2024, FAGARAS and two other individuals possessed device-making equipment, namely credit/debit card skimmers, at three retail locations in the Eastern District of Louisiana and installed those skimmers on point-of-sale machines.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
“We appreciate the collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation. Those who are involved in fraud regarding USDA taxpayer-funded programs will be investigated by our office to protect the integrity of those programs,” said USDA Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Wilkins.
The case was investigated by Special Agents of the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; Special Agents of the United States Secret Service; Deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; Deputies with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; Officers with the New Orleans Police Department; Officers with the Harahan Police Department; Officers with the Scott Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.
