Press release
Samuel Dumitru, 39, of Romania, was arrested on January 6th, stemming from a 2023 investigation at Wal-Mart in the Town of Warsaw.
In December of 2023, Dumitru and Retan Muntean, were involved in a quick cash scheme at the
store in which they would use distraction techniques and sleight of hand to steal money from the
register associate. On this occurrence, they were able to steal $2,900.
Dumitru and Muntean were using this scam all across the United States and hit several businesses
across New York State at this time.
Later in that month, Dumitru and Muntean were taken into custody in Westchester County. Since
then, Dumitru and Muntean have been arrested in numerous Counties for their crimes and also
prosecuted in Federal Court in Rochester for schemes occurring at another store chain.
A Grand Jury Indictment warrant had been issued for the two as they were being held in Federal
Custody. Dumitru was arrested by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office on January 6th after
being released by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office. Dumitru was then arraigned in
Wyoming County Court on the indictment. Dumitru was released on his own recognizance as his
charges were non qualifying offenses. Dumitru was then turned over to United States
Immigration and Border Patrol due to current immigration status issues.
Dumitru was charged with the felonies of Falsifying Business Records 1st, Scheme to Defraud
1st, and Grand Larceny 4th.
Muntean, who is still serving a sentence in Federal Prison, faces the same charges with the
additional charge of Burglary 3rd due to being previously trespassed from Wal-Mart. A warrant
of arrest remains active for Muntean until he is released from Federal Custody.