Jury Delivers Quick Guilty Verdict In ATM-Skimming Trial

NEWARK, NJ -- A Chicago man was convicted on Mar. 10 for his role in an ambitious ATM-skimming caper. Dinu Horvat, 28, was a member of a well-organized crew that placed card-reading devices on ATMs in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida and other states.

Horvat was convicted on four counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to possess 15 or more counterfeit access devices, conspiracy to possess access device-making equipment and aggravated identity theft.

Following a weeklong trial before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in a Newark, NJ, federal court, the jury deliberated just two hours before returning the guilty verdict.

According to law enforcement officials, the case is one of the largest ever uncovered, netting the gang more than $5 million. To date, 16 individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme. Twelve of those 16 have pleaded guilty.

With Horvat's conviction, charges remain pending on three other alleged members of the conspiracy who were indicted on April 16, 2014. Alin Dumitru Carabus, 40, Ionut Vasile Ciurba-Stana (a/k/a "Ciorba"), 28, and Robert Eduard Mate (a/k/a "Chioru") 29, face similar charges to Horvat. The trio was apprehended in Spain, and requests for extradition to the United States are pending.

The bank fraud conspiracy charge for which Horvat was convicted carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and $1 million fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory, consecutive penalty of two years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. The conspiracy to possess 15 or more counterfeit access devices carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The conspiracy to possess access device-making equipment carries a maximum penalty of seven and one-half years in prison.