Police Say Romanian Mobster Swindled Minnesota Retails Stores Out Of Thousands Of Dollars

 Police accused a woman of being a Romanian mobster responsible for an elaborate theft operation targeting Twin Cities retailers, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

The accused, 24-year-old Baronita Rostas, faces charges of theft by swindle, with reported losses totaling thousands of dollars from various stores, reported CBS. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office alleges that Rostas conducted fraudulent activities in multiple cities, including Eagan, Roseville, Albertville, Maple Grove, St. Louis Park, Woodbury, and Richfield, resulting in a combined loss of $6,280 for retailers between March and July 2023.

 

“This is a complex case, involving several agencies and a significant amount of work,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told CBS. “This sort of high-volume, organized fraud has a significant impact on businesses and their employees, and ultimately impacts all of us through higher prices.” 

Rostas allegedly would approach the cashier with merchandise for purchase and hand over stacks of $20 bills, then ask to recount the bills, removing some of them while the cashier was looking away. Thus, Rostas allegedly paid significantly less than the goods’ retail value. She would also allegedly recoup the money spent by returning the purchased items at different stores, reported the outlet.

Officers found “large amounts of cash and extensive retail merchandise, receipts, and gift cards” in Rostas’ car during the arrest, CBS reported.