TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOLLOWING ATM TAMPERING AND SKIMMER DISCOVERY IN RIDGELY

Caroline County, MD - On April 24, 2025, at approximately 7:40 PM, an incident involving potential ATM tampering was reported at the Queenstown Bank, located at 204 E. Sixth St., Ridgely, Maryland.

During a detailed investigation, deputies from the Caroline County Sheriff's Office discovered a skimmer and an SD card attached to the ATM-tools commonly used to illegally capture card information.

The swift actions taken included the issuance of a broadcast alert, which led to a traffic stop by the Maryland State Police. This stop occurred near the intersection of Ridgely Road and Eveland Road and targeted a vehicle matching the description provided by authorities. Two individuals inside the vehicle were later identified as Dragio Mircea-Costin and Alexandru Popescu.

As a result of the investigation, both Dragio Mircea-Costin and Alexandru Popescu were arrested and have been charged for their involvement in tampering with the ATM. They were subsequently held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond.

Further scrutiny revealed that both individuals are Romanian nationals, prompting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue detainers for them.

ATM skimming remains a significant concern, as criminals use these devices to illegally capture card data. This nefarious activity not only targets ATMs but also extends to gas pumps and merchant point-of-sale terminals.

The financial repercussions are staggering, with losses from skimming estimated to exceed $1 billion annually, impacting both financial institutions and consumers.

This particular case continues to be under investigation, and the Caroline County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division encourages anyone with relevant information to come forward. By collaborating with the community, authorities aim to curb such criminal activities and protect consumers from similar threats in the future.

Disclaimer: This article contains content regarding an individual formally charged with a crime or traffic violation. It is important to underline that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The details mentioned in this article reflect the current stage of the legal proceedings and are not meant to imply or conclude guilt or innocence.