Submitted by John Guilfoil, on behalf of the Bedford Police Department
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent and Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno have announced that Antonio Testone, age 30, of Italy And Bogdan Ionut Bujor, age 28, of Romania were arraigned on Friday, Oct. 28 on over 40 fraud charges in connection with an alleged credit card skimming and fraud ring.
“These arrests are the result of a multi-agency effort to remove two alleged scammers from our communities,” Chief Bongiorno said. “I commend Bedford and Burlington Police Officers for their diligence and hard work in bringing this case to justice.”
Testone was arraigned in Concord District Court on Friday, Oct. 28, and was charged with one count of money laundering, one count of conspiracy, six counts of uttering a forged credit card, two counts of card fraud over $250, one count of electronic funds transfer violation over $100, six counts of possession of a blank credit card and one count of credit card fraud under $250. Judge Ellen Caulo ordered the defendant held on $100,000 bail. The next scheduled hearing in this case is Monday, Nov. 14. The prosecutor assigned to this arraignment was Nils Lundblad.
Bujor was arraigned in Woburn District Court on Friday, Oct. 28, and charged with seven counts of larceny over $250, three counts of larceny under $250, seven counts of credit card fraud over $250, two counts of credit card fraud under $250, money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one count of an electronic fund transfer violation over $100 in connection with an alleged bank fraud that took place on Mall Road in Burlington. The defendant was also charged with one count of money laundering, one count of conspiracy, nine counts of larceny over $250, three counts of larceny under $250, one count of conspiracy, one count of violating an electronic fund transfer over $100, nine counts of credit card fraud over $250 and three counts of credit card fraud under $250 in connection with an alleged bank fraud that took place on Cambridge Street in Burlington. Judge Timothy Gailey set bail at $250,000 for each incident. The next scheduled hearing in this case is Tuesday, Nov. 22. The prosecutor assigned to this arraignment was Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Castillo.
“No community is immune to credit card fraud and we have unfortunately seen an increase in these types of scams throughout the state,” Chief Kent said. “We will continue to be vigilant in investigating and arresting those who profit from this illegal activity.”
“As our office continues to see an increase in the number of credit card frauds and skimming devices across Middlesex County, the arrest of these two defendants is extremely critical in helping to protect the public from becoming victims of these types of schemes,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Through the work of the Burlington and Bedford Police Departments, we were able to apprehend these two suspects for their alleged involvement in a multi-bank fraud potentially protecting many more people from being victimized by this large scale scheme.”
On the morning of Thursday, Oct. 27, several branches of a local-area banks reported incidents of fraudulent transactions. These banks were located on Mall Road and Cambridge Street in Burlington as well as at the Bedford Shopping Center in Bedford. Bedford and Burlington Police Departments confirmed through the use of still photos and video images that the same suspects were responsible for the alleged thefts at all three banks.
Subsequent search warrants resulted in the recovery of over 120 fraudulent cards, documents appearing to be ATM card PINs, and over $15,000 cash allegedly in the possession of the two defendants. Investigators believe other suspects are involved in the matter and the investigation is ongoing.
These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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