Seven Arrested In Acadiana Linked To Romanian Organized Crime

Louisiana’s Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says seven people have been arrested on felony racketeering charges for online scams involving sales. Caldwell says the people are believed to be members of Romanian organized crime.

Caldwell says the affiliates of the organized crime ring are alleged to have scammed more than 500 people out of close to one and a half million dollars.

Caldwell says the scam was to redirect online shoppers away from known websites to “spoofed” sites that were not legitimate. The shoppers, thinking they were purchasing cars or other goods, would be told to send money through money sites like Western Union.

After the payments were made, the alleged crooks would then cut off communication with the buyers, and of course, the buyers never got what they paid for.

Caldwell says,

“Scammers target anyone and everyone so it’s important to guard your personal information, especially when shopping online. In this case, we have an organized effort from overseas that affects thousands of people each year. These criminals will be held fully accountable.”

Attorney General Caldwell’s office says the criminal enterprise was operating in several Louisiana parishes including Lafayette, St. Martin and St. Landry parishes.

Others across the country were also victims of the scam.

Seven people were arrested today:

Ovidiu Micu, 34
1002 Park Avenue
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

April Derouselle, 34
1002 Park Avenue
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

Ashley Journet, 27
1002 Park Avenue
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

Edward Journet, 31
1002 Park Avenue
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

Ionel Popa, 47
213 Lodge Drive, Apartment C
Lafayette, LA 70506

Nielsen Racu, 26
224 Young Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506

Daniel Coroiu, 42
1002 Park Avenue
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Two people are still wanted by police:

Dorin Munteneau, 31

224 Young Drive

Lafayette, LA 70506