Two Romanian Citizens Wanted in Connection to Stealing from Florida Churches

FDLE arrested four people May 26 in Operation Thou Shalt Not Steal after a group traveled throughout the state and country, stealing donations from hundreds of churches and parochial schools. Two suspects, Catalin Trandafir and Simona Trandafir, remain at large.

The FDLE investigation began in December 2020 after Cape Coral Police Department identified 24 victim churches within Lee County plus additional victims outside their jurisdiction.

Investigators determined the suspects, all Romanian citizens, traveled to churches and stole donation checks from church mailboxes. The suspects operated out of Orlando but traveled throughout Florida and the United States, sometimes to as many as 85 churches a day. Many churches were victimized multiple times.

Suspects used a variety of aliases to deposit stolen checks into numerous bank accounts. The suspects used ATMs and then withdrew the funds as soon as they were posted but before the banks recognized the discrepancy.

While suspects purchased vehicles, food and clothing with the stolen donations, they frequently sent high-value wire transfers to Romania.

FDLE agents say to date more than 1,500 checks were stolen from 636 churches, including 355 Florida churches. The total amount stolen was more than $740,000.

Those charged to date include:

Ionut Raducan, 33, Orlando, booked into Orange County Jail and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and money laundering;
Marius Dumitru, 27, Orlando, booked into Orange County Jail and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and money laundering;
Marius (Viorel) Dumitru, 34, Orlando, booked into Orange County Jail and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and money laundering;
Panait Dumitru, 32, Orlando, booked into Orange County Jail and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and money laundering.

Still at large are:

Catalin (AKA Ionut) Trandafir, 45, Orlando, is wanted for conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and money laundering;

Simona (Nitoi) Trandafir, 39, Orlando, is wanted for conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering, grand theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information, money laundering and structuring transactions to evade reporting or registration requirements

The case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

If you spot the suspects, call FDLE at 850-410-7000.

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