Alleged Romanian Organized Crime Ring headquartered in Acadiana

Five Breaux Bridge residents were among seven people arrested here Tuesday, Oct. 14, on felony racketeering charges stemming from an online sales scam, announced Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.
Two more were arrested in Mississippi and another pair, including another Breaux Bridge resident, remains at large.
The suspects are believed to be members and affiliates of a Romanian organized crime ring.
They are charged with felony racketeering for stealing approximately $1.4 million from more than 500 people who were victimized by an international enterprise designed to unknowingly redirect online shoppers away from websites like eBay and Craigslist. Shoppers instead would end up at spoof, imitation sites where they would attempt to purchase items including automobiles. Shoppers were then instructed to submit payments to the alleged sellers through money service businesses such as MoneyGram and Western Union. After the payments were made, the alleged sellers would stop communicating with buyers and never deliver the items.
“Scammers target anyone and everyone so it’s important to guard your personal information, especially when shopping online,” said Caldwell. “In this case, we have an organized effort from overseas that affects thousands of people each year. These criminals will be held fully accountable.”
After receiving an alert from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, investigators with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office identified an international criminal enterprise that has operated within multiple Louisiana parishes including Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Landry, East Baton Rouge, and Lincoln. The enterprise also victimized multiple counties in Mississippi and other locations throughout the United States.
The arrests were a result of a coordinated effort between the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Pearl Police Department (MS), Homeland Security Investigations, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The seven individuals were booked Tuesday morning into the Lafayette Parish Prison and are being held without bond pending a bond hearing. Each racketeering charge carries a possible sentence of up to 50 years in prison.
In addition to the seven arrests made Tuesday morning, two individuals who are currently in custody in Mississippi on related charges will be facing new charges as well. Lastly, two other suspects facing charges remain at large and are considered state fugitives. The investigation remains ongoing. Additional charges are likely and more arrests are expected.
The following suspects were arrested October 14, 2014:
Ovidiu Micu, 34, 1002 Park Ave., Breaux Bridge;
April Derouselle, 34, 1002 Park Ave., Breaux Bridge;
Ashley Journet, 27, 1002 Park Ave., Breaux Bridge;
Edward Journet, 31, 1002 Park Ave., Breaux Bridge;
Daniel Coroiu, 42, 1002 Park Ave., Breaux Bridge;
Ionel Popa, 47, 213 Lodge Dr., Apt. C, Lafayette;
Nielsen Racu, 26, 224 Young Dr., Lafayette.
Two suspects are currently in custody in Mississippi:
Paul Moraru-Rogoza, 37, 301 Lodge Dr., Apt. D, Lafayette;
Gicu Oprea, 40, 303 Lodge Dr., Apt., B, Lafayette.
LA 70506
The following suspects are fugitives:
Dorin Munteneau, 31, 224 Young Dr., Lafayette;
Gheorghe Olar, 39, 1020 Shady Oaks Ln., Breaux Bridge.