Romanian Faces Sentencing For Tri-State ATM Scheme
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP/CBSNewYork) -- A Romanian citizen faces sentencing for his role in what authorities say was a multi-state scheme to install "skimming" devices on automated teller machines to withdraw cash from customers' accounts.
Dragos Osanu is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Prosecutors say the 30-year-old Osanu and others conspired to install the devices in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to capture information encoded on the magnetic strips of bank cards used by ATM customers.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Connecticut, among the crimes Osanu admitted to was using skimming devices on ATM machines at a Bank of America branch on Third Avenue in New York City.
Authorities say the scheme resulted in a loss of more than $200,000 for the banks and Osanu admitted the banks lost more than $70,000 as a result of his participation in the conspiracy.
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