![[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The U.S. Court in Providence. A Providence man will be sentenced July 24 for his admitted part in a Land Rover credit fraud scheme in RI & NH.](https://e8dgfhu6pow.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/US-Courthouse.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The U.S. Court in Providence. Four European nationals have admitted to a card fraud scheme spanning several states including RI and MA.](https://e8dgfhu6pow.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/US-Courthouse-336x252.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
PROVIDENCE, RI — Four European nationals illegally in the US have admitted to a federal judge that their card fraud scam compromised more than 15,000 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in unauthorized bank withdrawals and retail purchases, Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced.
The defendants, hailing from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Romania, admitted that they used credit card “skimming” devices to steal debit and credit card users’ personal financial account information, which they then appropriated for their own use. Skimming devices were placed on retail outlet point-of-sale terminals and on ATMs at various financial institutions.
Robby Vicson Codreanu, 21, a citizen of the United Kingdom; Isabela Ignat Codreanu, 24, a citizen of Romania; and Armando Ion Codreanu, 24, and Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 23, citizens of Ireland, each pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud; producing, using and trafficking in counterfeit access devices; accessing fifteen or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices; and access device making equipment. Nicolas and Armando Codreanu also pleaded guilty to a charge of access devices issued to another person.
Card Fraud Investigation Reveals Six-States Struck by Scam
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bristol Police Department, with the assistance of the Warwick Police Department, Coventry Police Department, Westerly Police Department, Johnston Police Department, and Seekonk Police Department.
Their work revealed that from May 2023 through February 2024, the defendants compromised bank cards and gained users’ personal financial account information by placing card skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals at various locations of major retailers and on ATMs of various financial institutions in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, more than 200 debit cards were compromised at two Rhode Island financial institutions, resulting in over $280,000 of unauthorized ATM withdrawals from 67 customer accounts.
Nicolas Codreanu will be sentenced on Oct. 14, 2025. Isabella, Armando, and Robby Codreanu will be sentenced on Oct. 21, 2025. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Two other defendants, Ionut Zamfir, 38, and Mila Ciuciu, 21, both citizens of Romania, are awaiting trial.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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