SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on December 1, 2020, Daniel Gologan, age 31, of Romania, was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani, for bank fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Gologan was convicted of conspiring to commit bank fraud between October 6, 2018 and October 21, 2018, and of aggravated identity theft. Gologan pleaded guilty to obtaining counterfeit debit cards bearing stolen account numbers and PINs in New York, and transporting them to South Abington Township, Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, Gologan and his coconspirator, Costel Aparaschivei used the counterfeit debit cards at Penn East Federal Credit Union and attempted to withdraw approximately $144,620. The conspirators successfully withdrew $66,510, which Judge Mariani ordered to be paid as restitution.
Gologan will be deported to Romania following the conclusion of his sentence. Gologan’s coconspirator, Aparaschivei, also pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft and awaits sentencing.
The matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and by the South Abington Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.