Criminal’s Story #5 – Giuliano Orlando Costin Sandu

Crime Type: Online Auction Scammer

Crime Country: USA

This is a true crime story from the actual criminal’s story as obtained from official and media sources, enhanced by the SCARS Institute Editorial Team. We utilized the SCARS Institute’s AI ‘Jane’ to dive deeper and delve into the minds of these criminals, scammers, and fraudsters, crafting their real stories to reveal their potential motivations and methods. Understanding these perpetrators helps us combat and disrupt crime/scams/fraud more effectively, empowering us with the insights needed to protect others.

WARNING: THIS SCAMMER’S OR CRIMINAL’S STORY MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME PEOPLE. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

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A Criminal’s Story

I Laundered $750,000 in Dirty Money: My Online Auction Fraud Scheme in South Florida

I’m Giuliano Orlando Costin Sandu, a 32-year-old Romanian living illegally in the U.S., and I’m sitting here with a cold, calculated satisfaction as I confess how I laundered over $750,000 in proceeds from an online auction fraud scheme, turning dirty money into clean cash right out of South Florida. I built a network of fake identities and shell companies, helping my co-conspirators scam Americans out of their hard-earned money, and I watched as the funds flowed into my accounts, my mind always focused on the next move, the next payout, the thrill of staying one step ahead.

It started in late 2023, a time when I saw a chance to make big money without ever getting my hands dirty. I lived in a small apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, keeping a low profile as an illegal immigrant, my days filled with the constant hum of opportunity buzzing in my head. I had been in the U.S. for a while, always looking for ways to make a quick buck, and I connected with a group of scammers through online forums, people who knew how to exploit the internet for profit. They pitched me a role in their operation, my voice steady as I agreed to launder the proceeds of their online auction fraud, my mind already calculating the fees I’d earn for each transaction. I didn’t care where the money came from, my focus on the cash I’d pocket, my life about to change with every dollar I cleaned.

I set up the scheme with precision, my hands steady as I opened multiple bank accounts using fake identities, my fingers typing out false information to create a web of shell companies that looked legitimate on paper. I used counterfeit documents, including a fake Czech passport, to conceal my true identity, my mind sharp as I walked into banks across South Florida, my smile polished as I convinced tellers I was a legitimate businessman. I targeted victims of the scam, Americans who thought they were buying high-end cars, boats, and tractors through online auction platforms, their trust in the internet making them easy marks. My co-conspirators created fake ads and auctions, tricking these buyers into wiring money to my accounts, my inbox filling with notifications as the funds rolled in, my heart racing with the thrill of each new deposit.

I worked the scheme methodically, my operation humming as I moved the money through my accounts, my fingers typing out withdrawal orders to keep the cash flowing. I withdrew large amounts in cash, often hitting multiple bank branches in a single day, my car parked strategically as I collected stacks of bills, my mind focused on preventing any chance of the victims recouping their money. I converted the funds into smaller transactions, spreading them across different accounts and branches, my hands steady as I concealed the nature, location, and ultimate control of the fraud proceeds, my co-conspirators directing me on where to send the money next. I laundered over $750,000 between late 2023 and early 2024, my accounts swelling with each transaction, my life a far cry from the one I had known back in Romania.

I spent the money on myself, my greed taking over as I indulged in a lifestyle I had always dreamed of, my apartment filled with new gadgets and designer clothes I bought to blend into the South Florida scene. I dined at upscale restaurants in Miami, my table always reserved, my meals paired with expensive drinks I never could have afforded before. I rented a flashy car, my drives along the coast a daily reminder of my success, my wallet stuffed with cash I hadn’t earned honestly. I kept my co-conspirators happy, sending them their cut of the proceeds through untraceable channels, my mind refusing to dwell on the people we were hurting, my focus on the fees I earned, the life I was building with every dollar I cleaned.

My motivation came from a place of cold ambition, a burning desire to live a life of wealth and freedom, to escape the struggles I had known as an immigrant with no legal status. I grew up in Romania, always watching others live the life I wanted, my frustration growing as I faced constant rejection, my dreams of a better future always out of reach. I saw the U.S. as my chance to start over, a place where I could make money without the rules that held others back, my mind convinced I was smarter than the system, smarter than the authorities who would never catch me. I felt powerful, my days filled with the rush of control, their stolen money a tool I used to my advantage, my greed outweighing any guilt as I focused on my own gain, my own escape from a life I despised.

I kept the scheme going for months, my confidence growing with each new victim, my accounts swelling as I laundered over $750,000, my operation a testament to my cunning. I opened more accounts, my fake identities multiplying as I used forged documents to keep the banks in the dark, my voice calm as I answered their questions, my lies seamless as I moved the money through my network. I withdrew cash in person, my hands steady as I collected the bills, my mind always thinking three steps ahead, my co-conspirators directing me on where to send the funds next. I knew what I was doing was illegal, knew I was helping scammers destroy lives, but I pushed that thought aside, my focus on the money, the power, the life I was building with every transaction.

I didn’t think about the long-term consequences, my mind too caught up in the immediate rewards, the rush of each successful withdrawal. I felt alive, my days filled with the thrill of deception, even as I knew deep down I was breaking the law. I imagined a future where I didn’t have to worry about money, where I could live the life I always wanted, my mind refusing to consider the fallout, the lives I was destroying with every dollar I laundered. I pictured my victims as faceless, distant, my mind refusing to dwell on their suffering as I focused on my own gain, my own escape from a life I hated.

I face the consequences now, my world collapsing as I plead guilty to concealment money laundering, my mind a storm of defiance and shame. I laundered over $750,000 for scammers, targeting Americans who thought they were buying luxury goods, exploiting their trust for my own gain, and now I sit here, my dreams of wealth replaced by the harsh reality of my actions, my freedom gone as I face up to 20 years in prison. I wanted a better life, but all I found was a $750,000 scam that cost me everything.

Source:  https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/illegal-alien-romania-pleads-guilty-south-florida-laundering-proceeds-online-auction

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SCARS Institute Notes:

Legal Disclaimer: The above narrative represents an interpretation and extrapolation based on all available information about the case. Achieving 100% factual accuracy remains impossible due to the inclusion of supposition and fictionalization to create a complete story and monologue. We aim to present a coherent account of the criminal’s perspective solely for entertainment purposes. We derive no income from this endeavor, offering it purely in the public interest. The criminal did not participate in this process.

Fictionalized True Crime Disclaimer: This story offers a dramatized account inspired by real events, crafted to explore the criminal’s perspective for entertainment purposes. We base the narrative on publicly available information, supplemented with fictional elements to create a cohesive storyline, and do not claim complete factual accuracy. The characters, dialogue, and specific motivations reflect artistic interpretation and do not represent the actual thoughts or actions of the individuals involved. We intend this work to raise awareness about the dangers of financial fraud, and we derive no profit from its publication, presenting it solely in the public interest. The depicted individuals did not contribute to or endorse this narrative.