One person remains at large, another was recently arrested, and a third suspect has a hearing later this month in connection with a $600,000 SNAP benefits scam in Ohio.
A warrant was issued for Ionut Bizga after he failed to appear in Franklin County Court and was given until December 22 to offer an explanation, which was not received. A $250,000 bond was revoked for the suspect.
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Doina Bacelan, the second suspect, was apprehended on December 4. This suspect’s hearing date has not yet been established.
Juan Hernandez has a hearing scheduled for January 12.
According to investigators, the trio’s indictments in Franklin County are the result of a year-long investigation in the Columbus area into a pattern of corrupt activities and food stamp fraud.
According to investigators, the fraud involved the theft of benefits, money, and products from SNAP recipients across Ohio using card skimmers and other techniques, totaling at least $600,000.
The trio was seen entering various businesses such as Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale, and others, where they spent hundreds of dollars in stolen benefits for energy drinks and candy—sometimes spending $3,000 in one visit, according to investigators—and then storing the items in storage units around Columbus.
The items were subsequently transported out of state in box trucks and, on many occasions, sold to a local distributor. These suspects, along with a number of unidentified individuals, were seen installing credit card skimmers in Ohio and Kentucky establishments.
Bizga and Bacelan were arrested following a traffic stop on May 14. The US Secret Service used a translator during their arrest.
A search of the vehicle turned up $62,600 in cash, several cold coins, gold jewelry, cell phones, and suspected cloned credit cards. Investigators also investigated the defendants’ storage facilities and discovered hundreds of cases of energy drinks, sweets, and other items.
All three have been charged with corrupt activities and illegal use of food stamps and/or WIC benefits.
May 2025 saw the filing of indictments in the case.
