Thread: Federal officials to deport Romanian Gypsy thieves

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Federal officials to deport Romanian Gypsy thieves
By ERIC HARTLEY, Staff Writer
Five Romanian Gypsies who came into the United States illegally last year and stole tens of thousands of dollars from liquor stores throughout the county pleaded guilty in Annapolis yesterday and will be deported.

Federal immigration officials said the crew -- six to 10 people were present during the thefts, though not all were charged -- is among more than 20 Romanians believed to have snuck into the United States after flying into Mexico together.

Authorities are looking for the rest, who they suspect are pulling off similar scams elsewhere in the country. A prosecutor said authorities think there are three other groups.

"This is a national problem," said an official with the Baltimore Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, who asked that his name not be used because he wasn't authorized to talk to the press.

He said criminal groups like the Romanian ones are organized and know how to play the system if they're caught, often posting immigration bonds or bonds in criminal cases, then going right back to their scam.

"These people know the system and they come with the intention to commit crimes," he said. "They hit the streets and they go into their routine."

The official said the Anne Arundel County case was a good example of federal and local law enforcement cooperating to stop such a group.

"Hopefully we'll start attacking these loopholes in the system," he said.

County police arrested seven Romanians March 29 after a Millersville liquor store was hit, the fourth similar incident in less than a month.

In each case, six to 10 people walked into a store. Several would stand around distracting the clerk, pretending to pick up products they were considering buying, while Lorena Dumitru crawled on her hands and knees into the back office and stole money, the prosecutor said.

"It is clear on the video that the male members of the group were blocking the clerk's view of the office and distracting the clerk," Deputy State's Attorney William D. Roessler said, speaking of the first theft, which happened March 4 at Severn Liquor Discount Mart in Glen Burnie.

That kind of "distraction" scam isn't new, Mr. Roessler said.

Mr. Roessler said $13,000 was stolen from the first store and another $13,000 was taken March 11 from the Place liquor store in Odenton. The group tried to rip off South River Liquors in Edgewater on March 17, but didn't get any money, and was caught in the act March 29 at Benfield Liquors.

Still photos taken from surveillance cameras at the other stores matched up to the group arrested March 29.

Yesterday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, four women and one man pleaded guilty to felony theft charges. Under a plea agreement, a judge sentenced them to 18 months in jail, but suspended the time.

The five will pay $4,000 each in restitution to the victims, money that's already in their lawyer's trust account. Their lawyer said they were expected to be on their way back to Romania as soon as today.

If they come back into the country during their five years of probation, they'll be in violation of probation and could also face federal prison time under a law that bars deported felons from coming back into the United States.

During two separate hearings, the five defendants sat as an interpreter leaned behind them and translated the proceedings. All had dark hair, with the women wearing long skirts and their hair tied back.

All four of the women were visibly pregnant, though no one involved with the case said they knew whether the multiple pregnancies were of any significance.

The only one to speak at length was the man, 24-year-old Ion Boana, who told the judge, "We are under great distress for being jailed for four months. We have kids waiting for us. We'd like to go home to our kids. We've never been arrested before."

Their attorney, Jeffrey Marcalus, said later he didn't know much about his clients' background. Because of the language barrier, he didn't have much communication with them beyond the facts of the crimes.

Mr. Roessler said the Romanians are all from the same town and flew to Mexico sometime between November and February, then went into the United States within a week.

They gave Chicago and Washington, D.C., area addresses when arrested, but authorities don't know where they were actually living, Mr. Roessler said.

Four members of the group also were charged with a similar theft in Baltimore County. The defendants who pleaded guilty are Maria Chiciu, 19, and Boana, 24, who are married; Dumitru, 22; Veronica Codreanu, 28; and Lorendana Velcu, 23.

A sixth defendant, Condreanu's husband Vasile Codreanu, 26, posted a $10,000 immigration bond and is wanted for failing to appear in court on criminal charges. The seventh person arrested, a 17-year-old girl who was charged as a juvenile, was released to relatives pending trial.

Crime courtesy of MEXICO!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by sawdust

Crime courtesy of MEXICO!!!!!!!!

How can you blame Mexico when they were from Romania?

Oh man, I've seen some pretty bad stories about the Romanian Gypsies. Talking high dollar crime. Illegal is illegal.

Federal immigration officials said the crew -- six to 10 people were present during the thefts, though not all were charged -- is among more than 20 Romanians believed to have snuck into the United States after flying into Mexico together.

Brian looks like they flew into Mexico and then entered the U.S.

Originally Posted by sawdust

Federal immigration officials said the crew -- six to 10 people were present during the thefts, though not all were charged -- is among more than 20 Romanians believed to have snuck into the United States after flying into Mexico together.

Brian looks like they flew into Mexico and then entered the U.S.

Thanks for the clarification. More reasons why we need to secure the borders.

If they come back into the country during their five years of probation, they'll be in violation of probation and could also face federal prison time under a law that bars deported felons from coming back into the United States.

Mr. Roessler said the Romanians are all from the same town and flew to Mexico sometime between November and February, then went into the United States within a week.

If they're sent back to Romania today, how long will it take them to get back to Mexico to be back "within a week"? BUILD THE FENCE!

All four of the women were visibly pregnant, though no one involved with the case said they knew whether the multiple pregnancies were of any significance.

Wonder when the babies are due? Better hurry back. We certainly wouldn't want anybody to miss out on the US anchor benefit.

A sixth defendant, Condreanu's husband Vasile Codreanu, 26, posted a $10,000 immigration bond and is wanted for failing to appear in court on criminal charges.

Who would have thought? STUPID!

The seventh person arrested, a 17-year-old girl who was charged as a juvenile, was released to relatives pending trial.

Yeah, probably released to illegal alien relatives. DOUBLE STUPID!