Second Romanian National sentenced in multi-state ATM skimming scheme

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A second man involved in a large-scale ATM skimming scheme that targeted customers across Rhode Island and the East Coast has been sentenced to prison and will be deported after serving his time.

Dumitru Bogdan Pancu, 40, admitted to installing hidden skimming devices on ATMs across five states from 2022 to 2024, stealing debit card data and using it to create hundreds of counterfeit cards. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay over $16,000 in restitution. Authorities say he operated under multiple aliases and was in the U.S. illegally.

A second person involved in the scheme, 30-year-old Marius Lupu, was sentenced earlier this month to 33 months in prison. He also faces deportation proceedings after his sentence is completed. 

Both cases are part of a broader crackdown on bank fraud and cybercrime targeting financial institutions and customers across the region.