Leader of Eastside ATM Skimming Ring Pleads Guilty, Says Feds

A Kirkland man pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to charges connected to leading an international ATM skimming ring, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Skimming is the process of stealing sensitive information from bank cards, such as card numbers and PINs, via cameras or other devices. Often, victims don't know that their cards were compromised.

Ismail Sali, 53, of Kirkland, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, conspiracy, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan, in a press release. His plea comes before his trial was set to begin on a 24 count indictment.

According to Durkan's office, Sali and his coconspirators used high tech devices and pinhole cameras to obtain personal information from bank customers, and then used that information to drain bank accounts.

Information developed by the Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force revealed that Sali had been involved in skimming in the Seattle area as early as 2007, according to the press release.

Much of the money was sent overseas to associates in Romania and some convicted included Romanian citizens in United States illegally, the press release said. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik scheduled Sali's sentencing for June 15, 2012. 

According to Durkan's office, investigators also found documents tying Sali to defendants who had previously been arrested and prosecuted for skimming activity, including Ion Armeanca, Dan Petri, and , three of whom have been sentenced to five years in prison.

Investigators found forms for making card skimmers, fake face plates for ATM machines, numerous gift cards and electronic equipment for encoding stolen account data onto the cards at the Kirkland home shared by Sali and defendant Eugen Tirca in September 2011, according to Durkan's office.

Attorneys will recommend a sentence of between six and eight years in prison, according to the terms of Sali's plea, Durkan's office reported. Sali also agreed to making restitution of $357,256. The agreemen also calls for him to forfeit any interest in about $10,000 in cash seized at the time of his arrest, as well as three vehicles, computer equipment and three firearms, Durkan's office reported.

Eugen Trica is scheduled for sentencing on April 27, 2012 and Ion Armeanca is scheduled for sentencing on March 30, 2012. 

According to court documents, the following locations had pinhole cameras or other skimming devices on them in connection to this case:

Sept. 25, 2010

Oct. 12, 2010

21045 Bothell-Everett Hwy

Bothell, Washington

BECU

Sept. 30, 2010

1645 140th Ave NE

Bellevue, Washington

BECU

Sept. 30, 2010

Oct. 1, 2010

Oct. 13, 2010

16304 Bothell-Everett Hwy

Mill Creek, Washington

BECU

Oct. 6, 2010

1201 Valley Ave E

Sumner, Washington

BECU

Oct. 8, 2010

Oct. 15, 2010

6920 Coal Creek Pkwy SE

Newcastle, Washington

BECU

Oct. 9, 2010

17246 Redmond Way NE

Redmond, Washington

BECU

Nov. 6, 2010

6460 NE Bothell Way

Kenmore, Washington

US Bank

Nov. 30, 2010

915 NW 45th Street

Seattle, Washington

BECU

March 19, 2011

13233 100th Ave NE

Kirkland, Washington

US Bank

April 16, 2011

13910 NE Mill Plaza

Woodinville, Washington

BECU

June 18, 2011

13830 NE 20th St

Bellevue, Washington

US Bank

June 28, 2011

July 1, 2011

1133 - 205th Ave N

Seattle, Washington

BECU

Tips for avoiding ATM skimming

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Secret Service offers these tips for consumers to try to avoid being victimized by skimmers:

• If the access door to a lobby ATM is broken, don’t use the ATM, go somewhere else. 

• If there is more than one ATM, and a sign has been placed on one of the units saying it is out of service, go somewhere else – the sign could be an attempt to direct traffic to the machine where skimming equipment is installed. 

• Check the machine before putting your card in – is the card slot securely in the machine? Has anything been installed around the edges of the machine that could conceal a camera? Is any glue or sticky substance around the key pad or card slot? 

• Always attempt to cover your hand when you enter your PIN so that if there is a camera, the numbers cannot be captured. 

• Watch your account activity and report any unauthorized credit or debit charges immediately. 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Norman Barbosa.