3 Men Charged With Using ATM Skimmers to Steal EBT Funds

Federal authorities said nearly $23 million in EBT benefits was stolen in the first quarter of 2024, most by ATM thieves.

A person holds a California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card in Oakland, Calif. on July 17, 2002. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Three Romanian men were arrested in Oakland last week on suspicion of using ATM “skimming” devices to steal Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) funds from low-income families, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced in an April 4 statement.

Petrica Mosneagu, 44, and Ionut Sopirla, 38, were arrested April 2 and placed in Santa Rita Jail. Virgil Tudorascu, 42, was arrested April 4 and placed in the same jail. All three men will appear in federal court in Oakland April 10 for a detention hearing, according to the statement.