Three Romanian nationals are headed to Texas prisons for a very long time after prosecutors said they ran a slick credit-card skimming ring that quietly harvested financial data from nearly 800 shoppers across Dallas-Fort Worth. The sentences, ranging from 20 to 30 years, come on the heels of guilty pleas entered in late June in Dallas County criminal court. Authorities say the crew planted hidden skimmers on store payment terminals and operated a card-making lab out of an Airbnb in Dallas.
Sentences and defendants
State District Judge Lela Mayes handed down the stiff prison terms: Gheorge-Ciprian Hilitanu entered an open guilty plea and was sentenced to 30 years last Thursday, while Victor Marian Tecu and Ionut Firan-Alexandrau pleaded guilty and received 20-year sentences last Monday, as reported by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth. Prosecutors said the punishment reflects convictions for engaging in organized criminal activity and fraudulent use of payment card information. The pleas and sentencing capped months of work tracing where and how the crew hit retailers across the region.
How investigators broke the ring
The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center led the investigation that linked skimming devices found at CVS and Walgreens locations back to a Dallas residence and an Airbnb workshop, according to a press release by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center. When agents executed a search warrant in July 2025, they discovered what the FCIC described as a skimmer factory, seizing hundreds of payment cards, specialized skimming equipment and roughly $50,000 in cash. The FCIC credited fast reporting from merchants and tight coordination with local and federal partners for shutting down the operation before it spread further.
Victims and the stash
Prosecutors shared updated numbers in court during sentencing: more than 150 skimming devices, 237 re-encoded gift cards, 25 fraudulent international IDs and passports, along with other card-making gear recovered at the Airbnb, and a forensic review that identified at least 783 unique victims, as reported by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth. Authorities say the trio zeroed in on customers at CVS and Walgreens stores across the Dallas-Fort Worth area in July 2025. Investigators are still working through the seized data and continuing to notify victims as they sort out the full extent of the financial damage.
Prosecution and courtroom
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot praised the outcome, saying the defendants “operated a sophisticated criminal enterprise that victimized hundreds of people across North Texas,” the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office said in its announcement. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorney Aja Reed and heard before State District Judge Lela Mayes, according to the county release from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors have not yet released total restitution figures as forensic accounting and victim notifications continue.
How to protect yourself
Officials urged shoppers to slow down at the checkout and take a closer look. They recommend inspecting card readers for loose, bulky or mismatched parts, covering keypads with a hand or wallet when entering PINs, and keeping a close eye on bank and credit card statements for charges that are even slightly off, per guidance from the Texas FCIC. Authorities said quick reports from merchants and timely alerts from banks were crucial tools in stopping these skimmers before they could be widely deployed. Victims are advised to contact their card issuers immediately to dispute unauthorized charges and to file reports with local law enforcement.
