CRIME

Romanian man sentenced for ID theft in Alabama

Donna Thornton
donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com

A Romanian man will spend 34 months in federal prison for identity theft offenses in north Alabama, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Alexandru Stoica, 35, to prison time for aggravated identify theft and illegally possession and using fraudulent access devices in Limestone County in October 2019.

U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and James G. Hernandez, investigations assistant special agent in charge for Alabama for U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, announced the sentence in a press release Friday.

According to court documents, Stoica knowingly used and attempted to use unauthorized access devices — gift cards — encoded with bank account numbers each issued to other persons, for the purpose of withdrawing money from the bank accounts.

“Credit card fraud and identity theft causes tremendous financial hardship and stress for the victims. It robs them of their privacy and sense of security,” Town said.

“Protecting the integrity of the nation’s financial systems is one of HSI’s top priorities and we will remain ever vigilant,” Hernandez said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Pillsbury prosecuted.