Fraud

Romanian National to Plead Guilty to Nationwide Wire Fraud Scheme

Strategic Insights

Oct 14, 2025 — 1 min read

Claudiu Pesteleu, a 43-year-old Romanian national, will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 16, 2025, at 1:30 pm. Pesteleu participated in a nationwide fraud scheme that involved businesses being impersonated through false websites, causing victims to wire money for products such as cars and equipment. The funds were then wired to bank accounts of shell companies using fake foreign passports and identity documents. Pesteleu's role was to assist co-conspirators in obtaining and concealing the fraudulently obtained funds.

Key Takeaways:

Pesteleu participated in a nationwide wire fraud scheme from May 2023 through June 2024, using fake websites and shell companies to obtain and conceal funds.
Pesteleu used various aliases, including Matthias Zammer, Samuel Der Saar, Fred Laport, Boris Adler, Fritz Bittman, and Thomas Muller, to create shell companies and bank accounts.
A total of approximately $1,800,000.00 in fraudulently obtained funds was sent to bank accounts controlled by Pesteleu.
The shell companies and aliases used by Pesteleu included Zammer Equipment LLC, Super Exotic Deals LLC, Premier E. Liquidators LLC, Adler Pre Owned LLC, and Bittman Motors LLC.
Pesteleu engaged in numerous financial transactions with the fraudulently obtained funds to make it difficult for law enforcement officials to discover the scheme.
The Homeland Security Investigations Deming investigated the case with assistance from the Gainesville, Florida Police Department.
Las Cruces Criminal Chief Richard Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Gardner are prosecuting the case.

Statistics:

$1,800,000.00 in fraudulently obtained funds was sent to bank accounts controlled by Pesteleu.
The nationwide wire fraud scheme lasted from May 2023 through June 2024.
At least 5 shell companies were used in the scheme: Zammer Equipment LLC, Super Exotic Deals LLC, Premier E. Liquidators LLC, Adler Pre Owned LLC, and Bittman Motors LLC.

Sources:

United States Attorneys General
Homeland Security Investigations tipline at 866-347-2423
Victim Specialist Jacquie Gutierrez at (575) 522-2304

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