Three members of a credit card skimming ring have been sentenced to significant prison terms following their guilty pleas, as announced by the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney's Office. Gheorge-Ciprian Hilitanu received a 30-year sentence, while Victor Tecu and Ionut Firan-Alexandrau each received 20 years in prison. Their actions targeted customers at CVS and Walgreens locations across North Texas, affecting at least 783 victims in July 2025.
The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center led the investigation, uncovering that the defendants installed hidden devices on payment terminals to capture sensitive financial information. Following their arrests, agents discovered over 150 skimming devices, 237 re-encoded gift cards, and other fraudulent materials at an Airbnb where the group was staying.
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot emphasized the impact of financial crimes on ordinary individuals. He noted that the sentences reflect the serious consequences of organized financial crime. The district attorney's office also provided tips for consumers to protect themselves from skimming, including inspecting card readers and monitoring account activity regularly. Dallas is about 51 miles south of Howe.
