Two Plead Guilty To Placing Skimmer On Springdale ATM To Steal Bank Card Information

CINCINNATI –Dimitar Angelov, 29, and Dimitar Kolev, 26, both of Chicago, each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to placing a device known as a “skimmer” and a hidden camera on an ATM at a Springdale bank in an effort to steal account information of customers using the ATM.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Mark Porter, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service and Springdale Police Chief Michael Mathis announced the pleas entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Each man pleaded guilty to one count of illegal use of a scanning receiver.

According to court documents, Springdale Police officers responded to a call on September 28, 2013 that two individuals had been sitting in a car parked in a lot adjacent to a credit union ATM. The subjects were seen individually walking to the ATM and returning to the vehicle. Springdale officers later approached the men and found evidence of possible credit card fraud.  Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered the skimming device and a pinhole camera attached to the ATM.

Springdale officers and Secret Service agents arrested Angelov and Kolev on a federal complaint. They have been in custody since their arrest. The grand jury indicted them on October 16, 2013.

The plea agreement includes a sentence of one year and one day for each man. They could also face deportation to their native country, Bulgaria, after serving their prison sentences. Judge Barrett will schedule a date for sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by Secret Service agents and Springdale officers, as well as the prompt action of nearby business employees. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Mangan is prosecuting the case.