PORTLAND, Ore. — Two Romanian nationals unlawfully residing in the United States have pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy targeting low-income individuals and families by stealing federal food assistance benefits, according to federal authorities.
Aramis Manolea, 35, and Cristina Manolea, 35, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Court documents show that between April and November 2025, the pair used stolen Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account information and personal identification numbers to make unauthorized purchases of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible goods, including infant formula. Authorities say the items were then packaged in storage units and transported by vans and trucks to California.
Investigators estimate the total value of the stolen benefits at nearly $27,000.
The case stems from a 26-count federal indictment returned by a grand jury in Portland on November 12, 2025. The indictment charged the Manoleas and their co-conspirators with multiple offenses, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, unauthorized use of access devices, possession and trafficking of device-making equipment, and aggravated identity theft.
Under federal law, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Cristina Manolea is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2026, while Aramis Manolea is set for sentencing on May 29, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge.
As part of their plea agreements, both defendants have agreed to pay full restitution to victims.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service in Oregon and California, as well as the Oregon Department of Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey A. Barrow and Nicholas D. Meyers are prosecuting the case.
Federal officials say the case underscores broader efforts to combat fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division, aimed at strengthening investigations and prosecutions of fraud schemes affecting federal benefit programs.
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