Romanian Woman Sentenced to Over Two Years in Federal Prison for SNAP Benefits Fraud
State of MD - A 22-year-old Romanian national is heading to federal prison after being convicted of stealing SNAP benefits from victims across the United States. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Maria Roza Tomescu to 28 months in federal prison for her role in a widespread food stamp fraud conspiracy. She was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland, along with leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Howard County Police Department. How the Scheme Worked SNAP, once known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded program designed to help lower-income families put food on the table. Recipients use an EBT card - similar to a debit card - that stores their personal information and benefit funds. Tomescu and her co-conspirators targeted those EBT cards. Starting in 2022, the group collected EBT account information from victims in Maryland, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, and other states. They did this by installing skimming devices on payment terminals at retail stores. These small devices secretly captured the card data of unsuspecting shoppers. The stolen information was then used to create cloned EBT cards, which the group used to make large purchases with other people's benefits. What Happened in Maryland On August 5, 2022, Tomescu and two co-conspirators walked into a Columbia Walmart and a Laurel 7-Eleven. While a co-conspirator installed skimming devices on the checkout terminals, Tomescu acted as the distraction. Less than a month later, on August 27, 2022, Tomescu used a stolen Maryland EBT number and PIN to spend more than $900 on Red Bull at a Sam's Club in Severn, Maryland. Her criminal activity didn't stop there. When Baltimore County Police officers pulled over a vehicle she was driving in 2025, Tomescu handed them a fake Italian driver's license. Once her real identity was discovered, she was arrested. Investigators then found that Tomescu had opened two bank accounts using that false identity. She used those accounts to deposit checks that had been written to churches by parishioners. In total, Tomescu fraudulently obtained $7,457.50 through her various criminal activities. Real People Were Left Without Food The impact of this fraud went beyond dollar amounts. At least 15 victims lost their SNAP benefits and were unable to buy food until their accounts were replenished the following month. The total loss connected to this conspiracy in Maryland alone is approximately $343,756. Co-Conspirator Also Sentenced Tomescu was not the only one held accountable. Judge Rubin previously sentenced Fabritio Sardaru, 22, also a Romanian national, to two years in federal prison for his role in the same conspiracy. Part of a Larger Federal Push Against Fraud This case is part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice. On April 7, the DOJ announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, whose mission is to investigate and prosecute those who steal or misuse taxpayer dollars. The effort also supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, which targets fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs. U.S. Attorney Hayes credited the USDA-OIG, Montgomery County Police, Howard County Police, and the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General for their roles in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Higgins prosecuted the case.
