October 16, 2014

Romanian Man Sentenced for Role in International Fraud Scheme Involving Online Marketplace Websites

A Romanian man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in receiving and sending overseas approximately $320,000 in illicit proceeds derived from an international fraud scheme involving online marketplace websites.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement. U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger of the Middle District of Tennessee imposed the sentence.

Alexandru Stanciu, 36, of Bucharest, Romania, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2013 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud in February 2014. In addition to his prison term, Stanciu was ordered to pay $305,106 in restitution.

According to statements at his plea hearing, Stanciu’s co-conspirators fraudulently listed vehicles for sale at online marketplaces such as eBay. When victims expressed interest in purchasing the vehicles, co-conspirators responded with e-mails directing the victims to wire payments to specified bank accounts. These bank accounts were opened by Stanciu, using false identities and fraudulent documents, including counterfeit passports, between December 2011 and July 2013. In total, 17 victims sent approximately $321,389 to accounts opened by Stanciu. Stanciu subsequently sent the bulk of the money to co-conspirators located overseas.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Senior Counsel Mysti Degani of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron M. Jones of the Middle District of Tennessee.