Share
News

Crime Ring Suspects Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Over $700,000 from Hundreds of Churches

Share

A Florida-based group of Romanian nationals stole $740,000 from hundreds of churches by taking donation checks from their mailboxes and cashing them, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday.

Four people were arrested and two others are wanted in what authorities are calling “Operation Thou Shalt Not Steal.”

The group was based in Orlando but traveled throughout Florida and other states stealing checks, investigators said.

In all, authorities identified 636 churches that were victims, including 355 in Florida.

“This low-tech yet well-organized effort to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of mailed-in charitable donations — at a time when donations may have been most needed — has been stopped,” FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said in a news release.

Trending:
Prince Harry Named in Major Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Rapper

The group had numerous bank accounts it used to deposit the checks and then used ATMs to withdraw cash as soon as they cleared.

Arrested Wednesday were Ionut Raducan, 33; Marius Dumitru, 27; Marius Dumitru, 34; and Panait Dumitru, 32.

Each was charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and money laundering.

All were being held in the Orange County jail. Jail records didn’t list a lawyer for the men.

Authorities are still searching for Catalin Trandafir, 45, and Simona Trandafir, 39, who face the same charges.

The investigation began last December after Cape Coral police determined 24 Lee County churches were victims.

Authorities said the group spent the money on cars, food and clothing and made high-value wire transfers to Romania.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.

“Churches depend on donations from generous members of the community to operate and serve those in need. It is despicable that this crime ring would exploit the selfless acts of kindness displayed through these donations for selfish greed,” Moody said in a news release.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , ,
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Conversation