2 Bulgarians Plead Guilty of ATM Draining in US

Two Bulgarian men were arrested in March in the lobby of City Bank in Fort Lauderdale, FL, when trying to rob an ATM by using fake cards. File photo

The two Bulgarians who were detained in March in the US state of Florida have pleaded guilty of ATM skimming and stealing over USD 112 000.

The news was reported by Sun Centinel and the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

The verdict of Alexander Nikolov and Toshko Iliev will be announced on August 31.

The two Bulgarian men were arrested in the lobby of City Bank in Fort Lauderdale, FL, after which police were able to obtain extensive information about their scheme.

They were busted while trying to withdraw money by using fake bank cards. Nikolov had 20 credit and debit cards on him and USD 1 000 in cash. Iliev had 13 cards and USD 1 100 in cash. During the raid of their home, another USD 13 000 were located.

Police say Nikolov and Iliev robbed ATMs of several other bank branches in south Florida prior to the arrest affecting some 800 bank customers.

What is curious in the turn of events is the inopportune way that the suspects revealed their doings to the police, the Sun Centinel wrote then.

While traveling in the police car under detention, the two, aged 33 and 38, carried out an extensive conversation in Bulgarian, trusting that police officers would not understand them.

Their conversation was however recorded and then translated, and it turned out it contained valuable information about their network.

The men talked about hidden laptops, suitcases with cash, fake passports and a certain Chicago resident.

They even mentioned that they would run away to Bulgaria and Mexico if they are released on bail.

Among other charges relating to the use of skimming devices, the two Bulgarians are now accused of identity theft.

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