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Date: 07-04-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 8:20-cr-00317-TDC
Judge: Theodore D. Chuang
Court: United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Prince George's County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Greenbelt, Maryland bank and wire fraud conspiracy charge criminal defense lawyer represented Daniel Velcu, age 43.
Defendant was charged for bank and wire fraud conspiracy, in which the conspirators received approximately $1,244,056.77 in stolen checks intended for religious institutions.
According to his guilty plea, from June 2018 to October 2020, Velcu conspired with five other foreign nationals and others to steal checks, including donations, directed to religious institutions through the U.S. mail. Velcu and his co-conspirators conducted the thefts by driving to roadside mailboxes of religious institutions’ and removing the mail from the institution’s mailboxes.
As part of the scheme to defraud, Velcu fraudulently opened bank accounts at more than four victim financial institutions under false identities. Co-conspirators opened bank accounts in coordination with a conspiracy member employed at one of the victim financial institutions, who assisted in the fraudulent account openings under false identities.
Velcu often fraudulently negotiated stolen checks at victim financial institutions through automated teller machine (ATM) transactions and deposited stolen proceeds into both fraudulently opened bank accounts and into bank accounts held in his name or a family member’s identity. Velcu subsequently withdrew money from the fraudulently opened bank accounts through ATMs and spent fraudulent funds associated with the fraudulently opened bank accounts.
On October 9, 2020, law enforcement agents executed a search and seizure warrant at Velcu’s residence. Authorities seized documents pertaining to at least one fraudulent bank account as well as fraudulent French identity documents containing photographs of Velcu with a fictitious name. In order to open fraudulent bank accounts, Velcu but using several fictitious names and identifying documentation.
During the course of the conspiracy, Velcu personally negotiated at least approximately 70 stolen checks totaling in at least approximately $40,357.50 from various religious institutions in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Georgia, and Maryland. Velcu withdrew at least $4,740 from the accounts that received checks. The accounts Velcu personally deposited checks into received at least $48,987.44 from approximately 101 stolen checks.
Eight additional accounts in the name of Velcu or a family member received at least approximately $82,872.65 from approximately 145 stolen checks, and at least that amount was withdrawn.
Co-defendant Marian Unguru, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty to the same charge on April 23, 2021. His sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2021, at 10 a.m.
Co-defendant Nicolae Gindac pleaded guilty to the same charge on June 29, 2021. His sentencing is scheduled for August 31, 2021, at 2 p.m.
As part of his plea agreement, Velcu has agreed to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $1,244,056.77.
Velcu faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD AND WIRE FRAUD, 18 U.S.C. 1349, which provides:
Any person who attempts or conspires to commit any offense under this chapter shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense, the commission of which was the object of the attempt or conspiracy.
Outcome: 07/02/2021 113 Arraignment as to Daniel Velcu (5) as to Count 1s held on 7/2/2021 before Judge Theodore D. Chuang. Plea entered by Daniel Velcu (5) Guilty as to Count 1s. (Court Reporter: Nadine Gazic) (ds2s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
07/02/2021 114 Motion Hearing as to Daniel Velcu held on 7/2/2021 before Judge Theodore D. Chuang re 98 MOTION for Hearing Detention Hearing filed by Daniel Velcu.(Court Reporter: Nadine Gazic\2B) (ds2s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
07/02/2021 115 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Daniel Velcu (ybs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
07/02/2021 116 -SEALED- PLEA SUPPLEMENT as to Daniel Velcu (ybs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
07/02/2021 117 Regular Sentencing Order as to Daniel Velcu. Signed by Judge Theodore D. Chuang on 7/2/2021. (ybs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
07/02/2021 118 ORDER OF DETENTION as to Daniel Velcu.. Signed by Judge Theodore D. Chuang on 7/2/2021. (ybs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
07/02/2021 119 ORDER Pursuant to Fed R. Crim. P. 5(f) as to Daniel Velcu. Signed by Judge Theodore D. Chuang on 7/2/2021. (ybs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/02/2021)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: