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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 48 sources · 1 days · First seen 10 days ago · Last updated 10 days ago

Romanian organized crime investigation in US and Romania

Overview

Romanian nationals Rudi Lacatusu and Mirabela Lacatusu were taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody following an alleged jewelry theft spree targeting elderly victims across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland. The couple, who reportedly entered the U.S. illegally, allegedly committed at least 14 thefts involving gold necklaces valued between $2,000 and $3,000 each.

In a broader investigation, Romanian authorities (DIICOT) and the FBI are targeting an organized criminal group suspected of customs fraud and money laundering. This group, reportedly formed in 2021 by Romanian citizens, allegedly used falsified documents to evade duties on luxury vehicle imports from the United States. Investigators believe the group laundered proceeds from various U.S.-based crimes, including theft, fraud, and robbery, by purchasing real estate, luxury cars, and jewelry in Romania.

In a coordinated operation involving the FBI, police conducted 42 searches across Bucharest and the counties of Argeș, Vâlcea, and Dolj. During the investigation, one individual, Alexandru Diamant, publicly claimed he paid the required customs duties for a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce imported from the U.S. in 2020, contesting the seizure of the vehicles.

Entities

DIICOT · FBI · Giurgiulești · Department of Homeland Security · NATO

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] Authorities conducted 42 searches in Argeș, Vâlcea, Dolj, and Bucharest. www.biziday.ro · adevarul.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro · botosani24.ro · evenimentvalcean.ro · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The group used falsified documents to reduce customs duties on luxury car imports from the United States. www.biziday.ro · adevarul.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro · evenimentvalcean.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] Several Romanian citizens formed an organized criminal group in 2021. www.biziday.ro · adevarul.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] Members of the group committed theft, fraud, and robbery in the United States. www.biziday.ro · adevarul.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] The group laundered money in Romania by purchasing real estate, luxury cars, and jewelry. www.biziday.ro · adevarul.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the FBI. adevarul.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro · www.biziday.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] ANSA inspectors at the Giurgiulești border inspection post allegedly demanded and received bribes ranging from 20 euros to 30,000 lei. agrobook.md · ziar.md · radiomoldova.md
[● 3 SOURCES] Inspectors allegedly accepted bribes to allow the transit of animals and goods without the required health or quality certificates. agrobook.md · ziar.md · radiomoldova.md
[● 3 SOURCES] The bribes, described as protection fees, were negotiated based on cargo volume, the number of animals, and the frequency of transport runs. agrobook.md · ziar.md · radiomoldova.md
[● 2 SOURCES] Six ANSA employees and one company administrator were detained for 72 hours. agrobook.md · ziar.md
[● 2 SOURCES] Anti-corruption officers and prosecutors conducted 24 searches related to seven criminal cases. agrobook.md · ziar.md
[● 2 SOURCES] Three of the suspects are currently facing other criminal cases for similar offenses. agrobook.md · ziar.md

Timeline

10 days ago

[CRIME] 45 sources
ANSA employees detained for corruption at Giurgiulești border post
Six ANSA employees and a company administrator were detained in Moldova for an alleged bribery scheme at the Giurgiulești border post involving the transit of goods and animals without proper certification.
10 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Romanian couple accused of multi-state jewelry theft spree
Romanian nationals Rudi and Mirabela Lacatusu are in ICE custody after allegedly conducting a 14-theft jewelry spree across four U.S. states targeting elderly victims.

Sources

60m.ro · adevarul.ro · agrobook.md · anchetaonline.ro · asingorj.ro · bizbrasov.ro · biziday.ro · botosaneanul.ro · botosani24.ro · click.ro · cvlpress.ro · epitesti.ro · europafm.ro · evenimentvalcean.ro · finanznachrichten.de · friulioggi.it · gorjeanul.ro · hotnews.ro · impactpress.ro · jurnaluldearges.ro · mediafax.ro · moldova1.md · mytex.ro · news.yam.md · newsbucuresti.ro · nordest24.it · nypost.com · observnews.ro · offthepress.com · ordinea.ro · probr.ro · radiocluj.ro · radioinfinit.ro · radiomoldova.md · rbb24.de · romania24.ro · servuspress.ro · spotmedia.ro · stirilazi.ro · stirileprotv.ro · stiripesurse.ro · upday.com · viitorulilfovean.ro · voceabasarabiei.md · waltroper-zeitung.de · zcj.ro · zdg.md · ziar.md

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history