Three members of a credit card skimming ring have been sentenced to significant prison terms following their involvement in a scheme that affected consumers across North Texas, including areas near Gunter, which is about 46 miles north of Dallas. The Dallas County Criminal District Attorney's Office reported that Gheorge-Ciprian Hilitanu received a 30-year sentence, while Victor Tecu and Ionut Firan-Alexandrau were each sentenced to 20 years.
The defendants pleaded guilty to multiple felonies related to their operation, which targeted customers at CVS and Walgreens stores in July 2025, compromising the financial information of at least 783 individuals. The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center led the investigation, uncovering hidden skimming devices installed on payment terminals to capture card data.
During a search at an Airbnb where the group was staying, law enforcement recovered over 150 skimming devices, 237 re-encoded gift cards with stolen information, and equipment for creating counterfeit cards. Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot emphasized the impact of such financial crimes on everyday consumers. The district attorney's office also provided tips for consumers to protect themselves, including inspecting card readers and monitoring account activity regularly.
