May 12, 2026
Press Release – Operation Quick Cash
Boulder County, Colo. - Following an extensive investigation conducted primarily by the Lafayette Police Department and with help from Colorado Bureau of Investigations, the District Attorney’s Office announced today the indictment of a major crime ring that used card skimming devices on ATMs and cash registers at convenience stores to steal from hundreds of victims.
The indictment charges eleven (11) adults and one juvenile for violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA), a class two felony, along with various other charges: Cybercrime, Identity Theft, Theft, Attempted Theft, Possession of Identity Theft Tools, Possession of Forgery Devices, Criminal Possession of Financial Devices, and Tampering with Physical Evidence. The eight individuals indicted who have been arrested are Romario Ciuciu, Viorel Tudor, Ion Ciuciu, Felicia Ciuciu, Denisa Barbu, Ana Maria Dumitru, Madalina Velcu, and the juvenile. Many of the indicted individuals are family members.
The crime ring stole financial information using card skimming devices that members installed on ATMs and cash register point of sale machines at various convenience stores throughout the Front Range. The crime ring targeted 7-Eleven stores, in particular. The installed devices would surreptitiously record and encode the card and PIN numbers of when victims used the ATM or point of sale machines. The devices are difficult to detect, and victims were unaware that their financial card had been compromised. The crime ring then used the stolen financial information to create a copy of the card (a.k.a. a “cloned card”). They used cloned cards to steal money from the victims’ bank accounts. The crime ring targeted Colorado EBT cardholders in particular, and often drained the funds of those who qualified for government benefits.
The following indicted members of the criminal enterprise have been taken into custody with the following case numbers and bond amounts:
In less than six months, this group engaged in extensive criminal conduct occurring all over the Front Range. By placing multiple skimming devices at numerous locations throughout the metro area, the crime ring stole the financial information of at least 447 Colorado EBT cards. In addition, law enforcement seized approximately 236 cloned cards, each containing the financial information of a unique victim. The group stole or attempted to steal at least $301,400.61 from victims in Colorado.
District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, “Once again, a crime ring victimizing people across the Front Range made the mistake of venturing into Lafayette. Over the past few years, the Lafayette Police Department has repeatedly connected seemingly unrelated offenses to major crime operations to bring them to a halt. Their work has improved public safety across the metro area. As we have done in the past, our prosecution team presented this case to the Grand Jury and secured indictments. I am grateful to the grand jurors for their service.”
Patrol Commander John Sellers stated, “The Lafayette Police Department and all assisting agencies put in 6 months of incredibly hard work identifying numerous suspects to help bring justice to countless victims. Resolving complex cases like this would not be possible without the partnerships with local law enforcement agencies and the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.”
As in every criminal case, these charges are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.