The group accused in a $300,000 Front Range card-skimming scheme grew as of Tuesday, with three people arrested among six newly indicted in Boulder County.
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In early May, a Boulder County grand jury indicted a group of 12 people, accusing them of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act when they drained people’s Colorado EBT accounts of funds. The same grand jury indicted six more people on May 28, accusing them of also having roles in what the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office called “Operation Quick Cash,” according to a news release.
In total, a grand jury has indicted 18 people on charges alleging that they stole or attempted to steal at least $301,400.61.Eleven of them have been arrested. In May, seven adults and one minor were arrested on the initial indictment that accused 12 people in the scheme. Now, the new indictment accused six more people of taking part in the theft. Among the newly indicted, three people were arrested as of Tuesday morning.
• Simona Velcu, 19, was charged with six counts, including crimes under COCCA, cybercrimes and possession of identity theft tools. Velcu is being held on $250,000 bail at the Arapahoe County Jail.
• Ionel Iancu, 19, was charged with six counts, including crimes under COCCA, cybercrimes and possession of identity theft tools. Iancu is being held on $250,000 bail in the Arapahoe County Jail.
• Marcel Velcu, 42, is being held on $250,000 bail at the Boulder County Jail, but court records detailing the charges filed against Velcu were not available.
All seven people indicted but not arrested have not yet been named.
The group, many of whom were members of two families, is accused of using card-skimming machines on ATMs and cash registers to target people on Colorado EBT, a government food assistance program. The machines would secretly record card and PIN numbers when people used the machines so the group could clone the cards and access accounts, the release states.
The DA’s Office said the group operated for less than six months and stole or tried to steal the funds across 447 Colorado EBT cards. Law enforcement seized 236 cloned cards during that time, the release states.
Some people had their accounts drained, according to the original news release.
The group targeted convenience stores — often 7-Elevens — in Boulder County and surrounding areas, including Westminster, Lakewood, Aurora, Arvada and Denver, according to an indictment.
The Lafayette Police Department is leading the ongoing investigation, according to the release.
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