May 28, 2025, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A nearly year-long investigation by the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) into the use of card skimmers to steal at least $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits across Ohio has resulted in indictments for three people.
Earlier this month, a Franklin County Common Pleas Court grand jury returned indictments against Columbus residents Ionut Bizga, 33, Doina Bacelan, 32, and Juan Hernandez, 26. Each was indicted for a pattern of corrupt activity and food stamp fraud.
In August 2024, OIU received a complaint from the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services that stolen SNAP benefits were being used for fraudulent Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions at Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale locations in the Columbus area. OIU conducted surveillance at these stores, identifying and observing the three suspects who appeared to be using stolen benefits to purchase merchandise.
In October 2024, OIU tracked the suspects to a residence at The Gardens apartment complex in Columbus. Using multiple surveillance techniques and store video provided by Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale, agents linked the suspects to suspected fraudulent EBT purchases totaling at least $600,000. The suspects are accused of purchasing bulk quantities of candy and energy drinks with stolen EBT benefits, often exceeding $3,000 per visit. The items were kept in storage units around Columbus, then shipped out of state in box trucks and, on several occasions, sold to a local distributor. These suspects and several unidentified individuals were also observed installing credit card skimmers at stores in Ohio and Kentucky.
On May 14, 2025, OIU coordinated with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, St. Clairsville Post. Troopers conducted a felony stop on a 2011 Toyota Sienna registered to Bizga on Interstate 70 westbound near St. Clairsville. Bizga and Bacelan were inside the vehicle and arrested on the outstanding warrants from Franklin County. OIU agents responded to St. Clairsville and conducted interviews with the assistance of a translator from the U.S. Secret Service. A search warrant executed on their vehicle led to the seizure of more than $62,600 in cash, several gold coins, various pieces of gold jewelry, four cell phones, suspected cloned credit cards, and records.
On May 15, 2025, OIU executed eight additional search warrants in Franklin County, following the information gathered through surveillance and store cooperation. Agents searched five storage units at three locations, three vehicles, and one residence. Items seized included:
- Public Storage on Morse Road: 32 cases of energy drinks
- A+ Storage on East Livingston Avenue: 232 cases of energy drinks and 205 cases of candy
- Kia Sedona: 125 cases of candy and seven cases of energy drinks
- Volkswagen Jetta: Two laptops, six credit card skimmers, a credit card terminal, and 18 suspected cloned gift cards
- Honda Odyssey: Various records and criminal tools
- Residence at 3505 McCallum Club, Columbus: Two laptops, two cell phones, 36 suspected cloned gift or credit cards, and a magnetic card reader/writer believed to be used to create cloned EBT cards
OIU will request the forfeiture of the Sienna, Jetta, Odyssey, currency, and gold recovered during the search warrants.
Additional charges for multiple individuals are pending suspect identification.
OIU was assisted by the following agencies during the investigation: Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Economic Crimes Unit; Franklin County Job and Family Services; U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Computer Crimes Unit, Intel, and Post 7; U.S. Secret Service; Walmart, Kroger; BJ’s Wholesale; and Columbus Division of Police.
OIU encourages EBT recipients to take precautions to protect their benefits. Keep EBT cards safe, never share card numbers or a PIN over the phone or via text, use the ConnectEBT app, and report any suspicious transactions immediately to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services at https://jfs.ohio.gov/help-center/report-fraud.
