2 Men Arrested Accused of Stealing Public Assistance Money from Poor People
Photo: Stock Image
Written By: Jim Emerson
HERCULES — Two men are in custody for allegedly stealing money from poor people receiving public assistance. The two suspects are charged with committing multiple felonies involving victims in Contra Costa County.
Police were alerted about suspicious ATM cash withdrawals at Bank of America, 1116 Sycamore Avenue at Creekside Center shopping mall. Suspicions were aroused because the men made many consecutive cash withdrawals.
Responding officers contacted the two men with no known ties to the San Francisco Bay Area. Police searched their vehicle and found 50 cloned Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Credit card skimming equipment and thousands of dollars in cash were also found.
Adam Nilsson (30) and Florin Tanasa (27) were both arrested by Hercules PD on December 1. They are being housed at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, pending a court appearance on December 21st. Bond for their release was set at $1 million each.
In a prepared statement the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said. “Nilsson and Tanasa have preyed upon California’s most vulnerable residents. Their financial crimes have bilked individuals and families out of money they need for support.”
Charges were filed against Nilsson and Tanasa for:
- Second degree burglary
- Grand theft by forged/invalid access card
- Acquire multiple access cards
- Forging access cards
- Conspiracy to commit crime
- Multiple identifying information theft
- Acquire access card account information
- Fraudulent possession/use of a scanning device
Moreover, Nilsson and Tanasa are under investigation for allegedly committing similar financial crimes in San Mateo and Santa Barbara counties.
