A Romanian national, Giovanni Iortoman, 21, has been sentenced to one year in federal prison for the illegal possession, production, or trafficking of device-making equipment known as skimmers. His co-defendant, Antonio Rafaila, 19, pleaded guilty to the same charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2025.
Court documents reveal that on March 31, 2025, employees at a grocery store in Laurel, Mississippi discovered a skimmer attached to a point-of-sale terminal. Skimmers are devices capable of capturing account information from credit and debit cards. After reviewing CCTV footage and notifying law enforcement, two men—later identified as Iortoman and Rafaila—were seen installing the device.
Authorities say the pair used similar methods at several grocery stores across Jones, Rankin, and Madison counties. Their strategy involved one individual distracting the checkout clerk while the other installed a skimmer. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Fraud Task Force alerted local businesses about their activities. Shortly after another skimmer was placed in Madison County, law enforcement stopped the sedan linked to the suspects.
When questioned by officers, Iortoman presented a Romanian identification card while Rafaila used a fraudulent Italian passport under an alias. Both were determined to be in the United States illegally.
A criminal complaint was filed against both men on April 2, 2025; they were indicted by a federal grand jury six days later.
Rafaila faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. A federal judge will determine his sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors. Both defendants may face deportation following their release due to their immigration status.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi; Patrick Davis of the U.S. Secret Service; and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and Mississippi Attorney General’s Office through their Cyber Fraud Task Force partnership with help from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and C. Brett Grantham are prosecuting this case.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force provided advice for consumers: “Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards if possible.” They also recommend checking terminals before use: “Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.”
