The person at the center of this case
Over 300 federal benefits program recipients (EBT cardholders)
Cold Case · Open
3 years waiting · since 2023
ILIE-SEBASTIAN-LAUR VASILESCU
Justice for Over 300 federal benefits program recipients (EBT cardholders) — the trail went cold in 2023, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What is Vasilescu's current whereabouts and has he fled California or the United States?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How were the skimming devices designed and manufactured, and where did the co-conspirators obtain the materials?
👤
person
Lead #3What are the identities and current locations of the three co-conspirators: Birdal Osman, Silviu-Florin Spiridon, and Bogdan Adrian Purgariu?
Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu is wanted for his alleged role in a sophisticated EBT card fraud scheme that victimized over 300 federal benefits recipients across California. Working with three co-conspirators, Vasilescu allegedly designed and installed skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals and ATMs, capturing card data and PIN numbers to steal more than $220,000 in electronic benefits transfer funds. He was last seen in Southern California and remains at large, making him a significant threat to vulnerable populations relying on federal assistance programs.
Case
#756
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court, Central District of California
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Which specific gas stations, ATMs, and point-of-sale terminals in California were compromised, and are there additional victims beyond the 300 identified?
📞
contact
Lead #5How did victims discover their EBT accounts were compromised, and what patterns exist in the timing and locations of fraudulent transactions?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Bank Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft Caution: Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu, Birdal Osman , Silviu-Florin Spiridon , and Bogdan Adrian Purgariu are being sought for their alleged roles in a scheme to defraud the recipients of a federal benefits program by installing skimming devices on various points of sale terminals in California in order to unlawfully access the funds in the victims’ electronic benefits transfer or “EBT” card, which works like a debit card. Vasilescu and the other subjects allegedly made and installed skimming devices, often small in size, with the capability to record, store or transmit data.
Some of these devices could be installed inside standalone point of sale terminals (a gas station pump or ATM, for example) - out of view of customers - and were designed to intercept data from access devices that were swiped. A very small camera was also attached to point of sale terminals to record customers entering their PIN numbers on the PIN pad.
The information recovered from or transmitted by a skimming device could then be used alone or in conjunction with another access device to incur charges or withdraw funds from a victim’s account without the victim’s consent, knowledge, or authorization. During the course of the scheme, it is alleged that Vasilescu and the other subjects requested disbursements totaling more than $220,000 in EBT funds from more than 300 victims' accounts.
On April 19, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, after he was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Remarks: Vasilescu was last seen in Southern California.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2023-04-19
Federal arrest warrant issued
Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, California
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 19, 2023
Last Updated:July 11, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 19, 2023
Last Updated:July 11, 2026