Three crooks accused of travelling together with scores of cloned bank and credit cards stashed away in their vehicle’s roof are to be sentenced later this year.
Constantin Cracana, 39, Daniel Istvan, 37, and 29-year-old Christian Andrei-Tapu were arrested and later charged after police stopped a car travelling on the M6 southbound near Junction 43 near Carlisle on March 16 this year.
All three men appeared at the city’s crown court this morning remotely over video links from custody.
Tapu pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing articles for use in fraud on the day of the stoppage. Cracana and Istvan had admitted being jointly part of this offence during a court hearing last month.
All admit having in their possession, or under their control, articles for use in the course of — or in connection with — fraud. These were bank and credit cards.
The three defendants have submitted written documents in which they give explanations about the extent of their criminal activity. However, these are not agreed by the prosecution.
Prosecutor Tim Evans alleged during today’s court hearing: “The Crown say this is a sophisticated operation. But one bank talks of losses of £90,000.
“They are travelling together in a ‘fraudmobile’ with 90 cards concealed in the roof. This is a much bigger operation, say the Crown, with more knowledge from each of the defendants than they are prepared to admit.”
At an earlier hearing, Istvan had admitted two other offences. These are another count of possessing articles for use in fraud, on March 9; and one charge of fraud having made false representation that bank cards he used between March 1 and 17 were genuine.
In addition, Cracana further admits two fraud offences having made false representations that cards he used at McDonald’s, on March 15and 16, were genuine.
Because current differences between the prosecution and defence cases are likely to affect the level of sentence that can be passed by a judge, a further hearing is needed to resolve the issues.
This is set to take place at the crown court on September 18, after which the three men will be given their punishments.
In the meantime Istvan, of Friars Vennel, Dumfries; Cracana, of New Road; and Tapu, of Cressex Road, both High Wycombe; remain remanded in custody.
During today’s hearing, the judge, Recorder Mark Ainsworth, observed: “The prosecution say this is a professional con.”
