Authorities say a sprawling Front Range skimming crew has been taken down after investigators uncovered a scheme that hit hundreds of Colorado residents, including many who rely on Electronic Benefit Transfer cards. The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office and Lafayette Police Department report that a grand jury returned indictments against 11 adults and one juvenile, with eight suspects already in custody. Officials say the group allegedly planted skimming devices on ATMs and point-of-sale terminals at several 7-Eleven and other convenience stores, then used the stolen data to clone cards and empty accounts.
The case, dubbed "Operation Quick Cash," was detailed in a May 12 press release from the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, which describes a six-month investigation tracing skimmer installs and cloned-card use across the metro area. According to the release, the indictment includes alleged violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, along with cybercrime, identity theft, theft, and possession of skimming and forgery devices. Prosecutors say the operation frequently zeroed in on EBT cards and used cloned versions to pull benefit funds shortly after monthly deposits hit.
“Once again, a crime ring victimizing people across the Front Range made the mistake of venturing into Lafayette,” the DA wrote in the release from the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office. The press statement names those arrested so far as Romario Ciuciu, 26; Viorel Isirus Tudor, 29; Ion Ciuciu, 49; Felicia Ciuciu, 48; Madalina Velcu, 21; Denisa Barbu, 24; Ana Maria Dumitru, 25; and a juvenile. In total, prosecutors say indictments have been returned against 11 adults and one juvenile, with several additional co-defendants still under investigation.
Investigators told reporters that the skimmers captured both card and PIN data, which was then used to create about 236 cloned cards. The probe has so far linked the crew to at least 447 victims and around $301,400 in completed or attempted thefts, according to figures cited by Denver7. Prosecutors say EBT users were hit especially hard, with some victims suddenly cut off from their monthly benefits.
The Lafayette Police Department led the investigation, with help from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and other partner agencies, according to the city’s news release. Lafayette officials credited months of follow-up work, search warrants, and cross-jurisdiction coordination for the string of arrests and the sweeping indictment. The department’s announcement directs the public to the DA’s full press materials for case numbers and additional contact information.
Charges and What Happens Next
The indicted defendants face a mix of state and cyber-related counts, including alleged violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, as well as identity theft, theft, cybercrime, and possession of skimming or forgery devices, according to Denver7. The grand jury indictments have been filed in the 20th Judicial District and will move into the arraignment and pretrial phases. Prosecutors stress that the indictments are accusations only and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
How This Fits a Bigger Skimming Surge
Federal and industry investigators have been warning about a nationwide spike in sophisticated skimmer setups, including insert-style devices that can be almost impossible for a casual customer to spot. Earlier this year, payments and law-enforcement briefings highlighted coordinated efforts that removed hundreds of illegal card-reader inserts around the country and warned that criminals frequently time their hits to coincide with benefit-deposit days to drain EBT accounts, as reported by Payments Dive. That pattern has pushed authorities to urge merchants to check terminals frequently and to encourage customers to use contactless payments when they can.
What Victims Are Urged To Do Now
Officials say anyone who thinks their card may have been skimmed should immediately review account balances, report suspicious or unauthorized transactions to their bank or benefits administrator, and file a police report. Lafayette Police and the DA’s office are asking victims and witnesses to hang on to receipts and transaction records and to contact investigators. The city’s release lists local phone numbers and email contacts for tips and victim support. EBT users who believe their benefits card was compromised are also urged to reach out to their benefits provider to request a replacement card and additional fraud protections.
For now, the arrests represent a significant local hit to what investigators describe as a widely active skimming operation, but prosecutors say the case is far from closed. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities caution that more arrests or charges may still be coming. They are continuing to ask anyone with information to step forward so the case can move ahead and victims have a chance to be made whole.
