Authorities in Los Angeles County have filed charges against a 27-year-old man accused of illegally withdrawing thousands of dollars in public assistance funds. His arrest is part of a larger effort targeting Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) fraud, which led to 11 foreign nationals being taken into custody across the region.
Ioannis Alecsopoulos is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly using fraudulent EBT cards to withdraw over $4,000 and attempting to take an additional $13,000 from an ATM in Lancaster, according to District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman.
Law Enforcement’s Fight Against EBT Fraud
“Stealing public benefits not only harms vulnerable individuals who rely on these funds but also impacts taxpayers,” Hochman stated.
Alecsopoulos was arrested on Feb. 1 as part of a law enforcement operation targeting skimming devices used to steal EBT information. Authorities recovered:
- Nine skimming devices
- 94 re-encoded gift cards
- Eight pinhole cameras used for capturing card data
He now faces 10 counts of felony identity theft, three counts of felony grand theft, and a misdemeanor charge for obstructing law enforcement. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in state prison.
Multi-Agency Crackdown Yields Multiple Arrests
The case is part of a broader effort led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, which conducted a two-day sweep on Feb. 1 and 2. During the operation, authorities:
- Arrested 11 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in fraudulent withdrawals
- Recovered 300 cloned EBT cards
- Seized $30,000 in cash
One of the individuals arrested was previously wanted in Romania on murder charges, officials said.
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EBT Fraud in California: A Growing Concern
The California Department of Social Services reports that in the past year alone, criminals stole over $100 million in EBT benefits, with Los Angeles County seeing the highest number of unauthorized withdrawals.
Investigators say these crimes are frequently linked to Romanian organized crime groups, many of whom operate without legal status or have previously been deported.
Court Proceedings and Consumer Warnings
Alecsopoulos was arraigned on Feb. 4 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, where a judge increased his bail to $500,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19.
Prosecutors noted aggravating factors in the case, citing the vulnerability of the victims and the sophisticated methods used to commit fraud.
Officials from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office are working with the Department of Public Social Services to help victims recover stolen funds.
Authorities are urging EBT cardholders to remain vigilant against fraud, warning that:
- Government agencies will never ask for EBT card numbers or PINs.
- Users should lock their cards, change PINs monthly, and shield information at ATMs or store terminals.
Task Force and Public Assistance
The operation involved multiple agencies, including:
- U.S. Secret Service
- California Department of Social Services
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
- Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General
Suspects detained during the operation were processed at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Los Angeles, where authorities verified identification and immigration status.
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Palasik from the Public Assistance Fraud Division is prosecuting Alecsopoulos’ case with support from investigators.
Homeland Security Investigations encourages individuals with knowledge of government benefit fraud to report tips by calling 877-4-HSI-TIP.
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