Two Suspects Arrested in Connection to Romanian Organized Crime Ring in San Jose

(KRON) — The San Jose Police Department (SJPD) announced on Friday that two individuals have been apprehended in connection with a series of crimes allegedly committed by a Romanian organized crime ring. The suspects have been identified as 35-year-old Mogos Constantin and 19-year-old Renaldo Vaduva.

The arrests were made after the SJPD executed multiple residential search warrants on Wednesday, targeting locations in San Jose and Livermore. These warrants were related to approximately 25 criminal cases associated with Romanian organized crime, as reported by the police.

The incidents under investigation occurred between July and October and encompassed armed carjacking, armed robbery, strong arm robbery, and grand theft.

During the execution of the search warrants, SJPD officers seized a total of $13,000 in cash, three vehicles, and potential evidence linking to jewelry swap scams/robberies, Facebook Marketplace vehicle scams, credit card skimmers, and money laundering, according to the police statement.

Increase in Romanian Organized Crime Incidents in San Jose

The City of San Jose has experienced a rise in Romanian organized crime incidents, according to the police. Elderly members of the Asian and Indian communities are often targeted by the suspects involved in these crimes.

Perpetrators of these crimes are typically fluent in English and Romanian, with female members of the group often dressing in “traditional” Romanian attire, which may resemble styles seen in the Middle East or India. The suspects frequently approach their elderly victims while they are outside on the sidewalk.

Typically, the suspects consist of a male driver accompanied by one or more female passengers. They engage the victims in conversation by either asking for directions or pretending it is their birthday.

While conversing with the victims, the suspects will “thank” them by placing fake costume jewelry on their person. They then proceed to either swap the fake jewelry with real pieces or forcefully take the victims’ genuine jewelry, as stated by the police. The suspects are often seen driving newly rented SUVs.

Wide Range of Criminal Activities

Romanian organized crime in San Jose has also been linked to various other illegal activities, including armed carjackings, armed robberies, burglaries, home invasions, strong-arm robberies or chain snatch robberies, Facebook Marketplace vehicle scams, grand theft of jewelry and purses, organized retail theft, credit card and ATM cash-out fraud, and other forms of theft and scams.

Furthermore, members of the Romanian organized crime network often approach victims at their residences under the guise of providing general contractor services such as plumbing, paving, roofing, and other business transactions. Once gaining entry into the victims’ homes, the suspects employ distraction tactics to steal valuable items, the police revealed.