Romanian national pleads guilty in St. Louis-area sleight-of-hand scheme
ST. LOUIS - A Romanian national, who authorities say was in the country illegally, has pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to a national sleight-of-hand scheme that targeted the St. Louis area and at least 20 states.
Adrian Stoica, 46, pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of wire fraud and one count of illegal entry into the United States.
Stoica admitted to carrying out at least 170 transactions at stores in 20 states from November 2021 to March 2025.
Investigators say, after cashiers scanned merchandise, prepaid gift cards, and electronic money transfers for Stoica, he would count out cash in piles to make it appear he was paying the full amount. He collected the piles and then slipped bills from the bottom of stacks into his pocket, short-changing stores by hundreds of dollars or more per transaction, then moving on to target another store elsewhere.
Stoica's plea agreement mentions three transactions in the St. Louis region.
On Feb. 17, 2023, he shortchanged a Chesterfield store by around $860. On Sept. 7, 2023, he shortchanged a store in O’Fallon, Missouri by around $690. The next day, he shortchanged a Fenton store by around $660.
After his guilty plea, Stoica could face up to 62 years in prison and $1 million in fines. He is also expected to be ordered to repay the stolen money and be deported, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
