HOUSTON ‐ A man and woman who illegally resided in Houston have admitted their roles in installing and removing ATM skimmers from machines at multiple banks in the Houston area, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Perla Miclescu, 26, and Rafael Rafaila, 21, both citizens of Romania, each entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
In April 2024, they installed skimmers designed to enable them and others to intercept debit/credit card information via magnetic strips. They would save the information onto a computer chip affixed to the device after unsuspecting victims used their cards at ATM terminals.
The first instance involved co-conspirators April 4, 2024. Security footage at a Houston bank showed Ana Maria Dirman, 30, and Mihai Alexandru Gaita, 38, both Romanian citizens, placing an ATM skimmer into the card reader. At the time, they were in a 2004 Ford Explorer.
The investigation revealed the vehicle was at two other banks in the Baytown area approximately two weeks later. ATMs at both locations were found to have deep insert skimmer and pin hole camera devices placed on them.
Law enforcement eventually discovered Miclescu and Rafaila in the same 2004 Explorer. They conducted a search and found two overlay pin hole camera devices and supplies used to make the overlay cameras, 24 reencoded credit cards (counterfeit cards) and one deep insert skimmer.
Authorities had discovered Miclescu had purchased super glue, two 32G Micro SD cards and scissors – all tools and materials utilized in ATM skimming.
Miclescu and Rafaila were also operating a gold-colored minivan April 5 and 7, 2024, placing a skimming device on other ATMs.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the pleas and set sentencing for Aug. 15.
Miclescu and Rafaila will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Gaita previously pleaded guilty and is also set for sentencing Aug. 15. Dirman remains a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the United States Secret Service Houston Field office at (713) 868-2299.
Police departments in Houston and Baytown, Texas Financial Crimes Intel Center and Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day is prosecuting the case.