A Romanian national has pleaded guilty to access device fraud in the Eastern District of Louisiana. On August 19, 2025, Andrei Fagaras, 35, admitted to charges related to the possession and installation of credit and debit card skimmers at three retail locations in November 2024.
According to court documents, Fagaras and two others used device-making equipment to install skimmers on point-of-sale machines over a two-day period. The indictment includes three counts of access device fraud under federal law. Fagaras could face up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America. The initiative brings together resources from the Department of Justice with the aim to address illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The operation coordinates efforts from programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson recognized the efforts of several agencies involved in the investigation: “Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the New Orleans Police Department.” Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero is prosecuting the case.
