“It is beyond discouraging to learn of individuals who prey on elderly citizens as well as public funds meant to help families in financial need due to unemployment. We value the men and women in law enforcement who devote their careers to protecting us from harm, be it physical or financial. They deserve and have earned our gratitude.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
SAN DIEGO – On November 20, 2023, Eduard Ghiocel, 48, and his wife, Floarea Ghiocel, 49, were sentenced in federal court to 36 months and 30 months, respectively, for laundering $1.4 million in proceeds from dozens of grand thefts, robberies and swindles targeting mostly elderly victims in San Diego County.
According to their plea agreements, the Ghiocels, along with co-conspirators Gabriel Ghiocel, Marius Ghiocel, Larisa Ghiocel, and Argentina Alexandru, conducted a series of 17 grand thefts and robberies of jewelry in elderly communities in San Diego. They then pawned the stolen jewelry and watches for cash in jewelry stores in Los Angeles.
In addition, Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel admitted submitting fraudulent unemployment claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to obtain approximately $32,250 in California unemployment insurance benefits intended to help workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel admitted wiring proceeds from the jewelry thefts and the unemployment insurance fraud to Romania, as well as using the proceeds to purchase gold bars, gold coins, and high-end luxury vehicles from locations in Southern California and shipping these items to Romania. In total the Ghiocels sent nearly $1.4 million to Romania, knowing the money was proceeds of theft, robbery, and fraud, the plea agreement said.
Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel agreed to forfeit proceeds of the crime including two Lamborghini Urus, a 2020 Ferrari Portofino, and a BMW X4 all seized by authorities in Romania. The forfeitures will be used pay restitution to victims of the crimes.
The co-conspirators remain at large.
Agencies that assisted investigation:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit
- IRS Criminal Investigation
- California Employment Development Department Investigative Division
- Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
