ICE ATM/EBT fraud operation yields 15 arrests in Orange County

LOS ANGELES – From March 1-2, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Orange County and its Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, along with multiple law enforcement partners, conducted county wide operations targeting Romanian organized theft rings and other criminals responsible for conducting numerous unauthorized ATM transactions utilizing counterfeit/cloned EBT cards at various financial institutions in Orange County. During this operation, ICE and local police identified and arrested 15 individuals for the violation of federal law involving the use/manufacturing of an access device with the intent to defraud. In addition to the federal arrests, two state arrests were also made for subjects involved in EBT fraud. Approximately 42 counterfeit/cloned EBT cards and bulk U.S. currency was seized pursuant to the operation. The cases were presented to the United States Attorney's Office in the Central District of California and District Attorney’s Office for both federal and state prosecution.

“This type of fraud that is occurring in our communities cannot be combatted alone,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “Our El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force and HSI Orange County’s collaboration with our federal, state and local partners is paramount to effectively stopping ATM and EBT fraud.”

Operational partners included the Diplomatic Security Service, Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General, Los Angeles, District Attorney’s Office, California Department of Social Services, Orange County District Attorney's Office, Westminster Police Department, Inglewood Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Garden Grove Police Department, El Monte Police Department, Orange Police Department, Huntington Beach Police Department, La Habra Police Department, Cypress Police Department and the Brea Police Department.

Indictments contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Anyone with information on ATM/EBT fraud are encouraged to call the ICE Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

Learn more about ICE HSI’s mission to protect the U.S. economy in your community on X at @HSILosAngeles.