A Romanian national pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiring with another Romanian national to skim customer account information from PNC Bank ATM machines in Western Pennsylvania, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced in a press release last week.
Alexandru Razvan Serb, 39 pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2010, to one count of conspiracy before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
Between November 2009, and April 2010, Serb installed electronic skimming equipment onto several ATM machines in order to intercept customer bank account information contained on the magnetic strip of debit and credit cards used at ATM(s). The intended losses could be as high as $400,000 from the skimming operation.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for Thursday, April 7, 2011. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense, and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the order of detention for Serb.