United States v. Constantinescu et al., 19 Cr. 651 (LTS)

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF FRAUDULENT ATM CARD ACTIVITY, PLEASE CONTACT THE VICTIM/WITNESS COORDINATOR AT THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE USING THE PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED BELOW FOR ASSISTANCE IN VERIFYING WHETHER YOU ARE A VICTIM IN THIS CASE.

On October 10, 2019, an indictment and two superseding indictments were unsealed charging 18 defendants with participating in an international conspiracy to commit a variety of offenses, including access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  The defendants include MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Sobo,” NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, a/k/a “Nicu Limberto,” CRISTIAN COSTEA, a/k/a “Momo,” THEOFRASTOS LYMBERATOS, ANDREW ELIOPOULOS, PETER SAMOLIS, KELLY KARKI LAM, IULIANA MIHAILESCU, ALIN HANES CALUGARU, IONELA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Pitica,” GEORGE SERBAN, FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN, a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,” a/k/a “Johnny Ion,” a/k/a “Jane Hotul,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioane,” RAUL IONUT VIDRASAN, a/k/a “Michu,” a/k/a “The Boy,” VALENTIN PETRESCU, a/k/a “Gico Cosmin Giscan,” a/k/a “Zoltan Pruma,” DRAGOS DIACONU, MADLIN ALEXANDRU ANCA, a/k/a “Mateo Fernandez Alejandro,” ALEX DONATI, and CRISTIAN ULMANU, a/k/a “Boris Moravec.” The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

 

Wednesday, January 3, 2024 update:

A sentencing hearing will be held on January 4, 2024, at 2:30pm, in Courtroom 23A, 500 Pearl Street, in United States v. Constantin Ovidiu Tita, No. 20 Cr. 428 (SHS).

Monday, December 11, 2023 update:

Defendant Theofrastos Lymberatos has filed a motion for reduction of sentence under the 2023 Guidelines Amendments.  If you believe that you are a victim of his conduct and wish to share your view regarding his motion, please contact the Victim/Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office on or before December 19, 2023, using the phone number or email address listed below.

Monday, May 15, 2023 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Elena Moldovan will be held on May 17, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., in Courtroom 23A, 500 Pearl Street.  Attention is directed to the Court's policies regarding courthouse entry and COVID-19 test reporting protocols, which are available on the Court's website, at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, July 28, 2022 update:

A change-of-plea hearing for defendant Daniel Silvu Camaras will be held on July 29, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., in Courtroom 17C, 500 Pearl Street.  Attention is directed to the Court's policies regarding courthouse entry and COVID-19 test reporting protocols, which are available on the Court's website, at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A change-of-plea hearing for defendant Ionela Constantinescu is scheduled to proceed on August 2, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. in Courtroom 17C. Attention is directed to the Court’s policies regarding courthouse entry and COVID-19 test reporting protocols, which are available on the Court's website, at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, July 7, 2022 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Peter Samolis will be held on July 12, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., in Courtroom 17C, 500 Pearl Street.  Attention is directed to the Court's policies regarding courthouse entry and COVID-19 test reporting protocols, which are available on the Court's website, at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Friday, March 25, 2022 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant George Caceras Ortmeier will be held on March 30, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., in Courtroom 17C, 500 Pearl Street.  Attention is directed to the Court's policies regarding courthouse entry and COVID-19 test reporting protocols, which are available on the Court's website, at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Monday, February 28, 2022 update:

A change of plea hearing for defendant Peter Samolis will be held on March 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., as a teleconference, by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A sentencing hearing for defendant George Caceras Ortmeier will be held on March 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted in Courtroom 17C at 500 Pearl Street.  Attention is directed to the Court’s policies regarding courthouse entry and COVID-19 test reporting protocols, which are available on the Court’s website, at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant David Georgescu will be held on February 24, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 17C at 500 Pearl Street, and is open to victims and the public.

Thursday, September 23, 2021 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Alexandru Iordache will be held on September 29, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted in Courtroom 17C at 500 Pearl Street, but is also open to victims and the public on a telephonic basis by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Andrei Razvan Rusu will be held on September 9, 2021, at 9:30 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted in Courtroom 17C at 500 Pearl Street, but is also open to victims and the public on a telephonic basis by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 update: 

A change of plea hearing for defendant Andrei Razvan Rusu will be held on June 11, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

 

Thursday, June 3, 2021 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Valentin Petrescu will be held on June 10, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.  The hearing will be conducted in Courtroom 17C at 500 Pearl Street, but is open to victims and the public on a telephonic basis by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Friday, May 28, 2021 updates:

A pretrial conference for defendant George Caceras Ortmeier will be held on June 1, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A sentencing hearing for defendant Robert Duczon will be held on June 8, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, May 20, 2021 updates:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Raul Ionut Vidrasan will be held on May 24, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A change of plea hearing for defendant Theofrastos Lymberatos will be held on June 2, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, April 15, 2021 update:

A conference for defendant Nikolaos Limberatos will be held on April 19, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734 and use access code 1527005# and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Gabriel Orzanica is scheduled to take place via teleconference on April 14, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Co-counsel, members of the press, and the public may access the audio feed of the conference by calling 855-268-7844 and using access code 32091812# and PIN 9921299#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.  

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Claudiu Vaduva will be held on April 9, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: (855) 268-7844; using access code 32091812#; and PIN 9921299#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A conference for defendant David Georgescu will be held on April 9, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and password 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, February 25, 2021 update:

A sentencing hearing for defendant Madlin Alexandru Anca will be held on March 2, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: (855) 268-7844 and using access code 67812309#; and PIN 9921299#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Monday, February 22, 2021 update:

A change of plea hearing for defendant Robert Duczon will be held on February 25, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

A sentencing hearing for defendant Claudiu Costinel Miahi will be held on February 24, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted via videoconference, and is open to victims and the public telephonically by use of the following: 855-268-7844, access code 32091812#, and PIN 9921299#. Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited. 

A change of plea hearing for defendant Valentin Petrescu will be held on February 25, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and security code 2480#. Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Monday, January 4, 2021 update:

A change of plea hearing for defendant Gabriel Orzanica will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, and security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Thursday, December 17, 2020 update:

A change of plea hearing for defendant Claudiu Vaduva will be held on December 21, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.  The hearing will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 855-268-7844 and using access code 32091812# and PIN 9921299#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited. 

Friday, December 4, 2020 update:

A status conference for defendant Alexandru Radulescu will be held on December 11, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Sunday, November 29, 2020 update:

A status conference for defendants Valentin Petrescu and Andrei Razvan Rusu will be held on December 1, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A status conference for defendants Alin Hanes Calugaru and Cristian Ulmanu will be held on December 3, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A status conference for defendants Nikolaos Limberatos and Gabriel Orzanica will be held on December 4, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Friday, November 20, 2020 update:

A status conference for defendants Raul Ionut Vidrasan, Robert Duczon, David Georgescu, and Claudiu Vaduva will be held on November 23, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

A status conference for defendants Florian Claudiu Martin and Alexandru Iordache will be held on November 25, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 2480#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Friday, November 13, 2020 update: 

A change of plea hearing for defendant Madlin Alexandru Anca will be held on November 17, 2020, at 12:00 p.m.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, enter the access code 1527005#, and the security code 3233#.  Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited.

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 update: 

The next conference for defendants Mircea Constantinescu, Cristian Costea, Ionela Constantinescu, Theofrastos Lymberatos, Andrew Eliopoulos, Peter Samolis, and Iuliana Mihailescu will take place on November 19, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., before Judge Swain.  The conference will be conducted telephonically, and is open to victims and the public by use of the following: 888-363-4734, access code 1527005#, security code 2480#. Please be aware that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited by law.

Federal crime victims have the following rights, as set forth in 18 U.S.C. §3771:

(1) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
(2) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.
(3) The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
(4) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
(5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
(6) The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
(7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
(8) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

For information or assistance please contact:

Wendy Olsen Clancy
Victim/Witness Coordinator
United States Attorney's Office
One St. Andrew's Plaza
New York, New York 10007
(866) 874-8900
Wendy.Olsen@usdoj.gov