Two Romanian brothers pleaded guilty to a multistate SNAP fraud scheme involving more than $760,000. DOJ says they used skimming devices to steal EBT card data and load it onto counterfeit access devices to buy bulk items for resale.

Federal prosecutors say two brothers orchestrated a large-scale SNAP fraud operation that targeted EBT card data across multiple states. According to the DOJ, the defendants installed skimming devices at ATMs and fuel pumps to capture information from beneficiaries’ SNAP EBT cards. Prosecutors allege the stolen data was then used to create counterfeit cards that could be used to access benefits and purchase large quantities of items intended for resale. DOJ characterized the scheme as identity-theft-driven fraud, emphasizing that the conduct harmed both program participants and state agencies overseeing benefits administration. The case also highlights how “physical” skimming paired with downstream counterfeit card creation can turn stolen credentials into immediate financial loss and downstream resale networks. While the guilty pleas resolve the criminal responsibility in this matter, the press release underscores ongoing law-enforcement focus on supply-chain aspects of fraud—device procurement, skimming execution, data monetization, and counterfeit fabrication. The result is a coordinated attack that can spread across jurisdictions and increase victimization through repeated benefit theft.