Alexandru Cosmin Licsor, a fugitive linked to an ATM skimming scheme that defrauded Utah financial institutions and its customers, has been apprehended. The 37-year old citizen of Romania, who had been on the run for more than two years, is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, November 8, 2019, at 2 p.m.

Upon learning that Licsor was in Romania, Romanian authorities arrested him on an extradition request. Licsor was returned to the United States on November 7, 2019.

On October 11, 2017, Licsor was charged in an indictment with possession or use of an access device, three counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. At that time, a warrant was also issued for his arrest.

The indictment alleges that from January to February 2015, Licsor and his co-conspirators, who remain unidentified, installed skimming equipment on at least four different bank ATMs in Utah with the purpose of recording information from the debit and credit cards customers inserted at those ATMs. According to the charges, Licsor and his associates were able to successfully withdraw nearly $190,000 from more than 2,000 cards of unsuspecting customers.

“Although Licsor managed to elude authorities for a while, this case demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering pursuit for justice,” said Paul Haertel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office. “Without the existence of strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies at home and abroad, Licsor’s arrest and extradition would not have been possible, and he will now face a judge for his alleged crimes.”

The FBI’s Cyber Task Force, which includes officers with the Utah Department of Public Safety, investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Romania.

All individuals charged are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.