Houston Fraud Ring Busted 5 More Arrested for Targeting Texans

Five more suspects have just been arrested and taken off the street in Houston for a large-scale fraud operation that’s been quietly targeting Texans, and authorities say it’s part of an organized crime ring with ties to several other countries.

Houston Crime Ring Busted for Targeting Texans in Fraud Scheme

Several Texas agencies and law-enforcement task forces worked together to execute search warrants last Tuesday, and quickly uncovered a shocking criminal operation tied to a well-known Romanian organized crime ring. The group is accused of identity fraud and theft, scamming Texans at ATMs, fake document production, and robbing Texans through elaborate financial scams and schemes.

Fake IDs, Forgery, and Financial Exploitation

Inside a Houston home, investigators discovered counterfeit passports and forged IDs used to commit fraud and bypass security systems. The documents were reportedly intended for use in ongoing financial crimes across the state.

Two suspects, Elizabeta Stefan and Madalin Trifu, were charged with Forgery with Intent to Defraud. Three others, Vasile Trifu, Ion Trifu, and Catalin Trifu, were also arrested. Vasile faces charges related to ATM skimming. Ion and Catalin were detained by Homeland Security Investigations.

What This Means for Texans

This case was cracked open thanks to the joint efforts of the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, Texas DPS, Houston Police, the U.S. Secret Service, and multiple federal agencies.

Officials warn that these types of schemes are becoming more common and more advanced, using fake documents and tech tricks to exploit innocent Texans.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone to come forward. You'll see in the video below how hard Texas law agencies have been working to catch these criminals. These four were caught less than a year ago. In one year, the FCIC says they scammed over 123 million dollars last year alone.