Help me resolve a mystery

[hmel]

Hi guys.

A recent thread brought up some memories about a Romanian bitcoin ATM manufacturer and the theft of bitcoin from them (and me), so I was wondering if I could ask for your help gathering more information about the case. The thread in question is this one https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5356230.0, but context about the theft can be found here https://archive.fo/nSGzG#selection-183.0-183.52. So, allegedly, this NITA SORIN IONUT character was sentenced to jail time and then died in prison. I received these documents and would like to know what they say and if you think they're genuine.
https://ibb.co/YDyjF5C
https://ibb.co/zxxtjQJ
https://ibb.co/B2tzg4S
https://ibb.co/vjN2kH4
https://ibb.co/821ZsNy

Also, if you could dig up some more info regarding the case and what happened to the stolen bitcoin it would be awesome.

Cheers!

[NeuroticFish]

I received these documents and would like to know what they say and if you think they're genuine.

I'm not very experienced with this, but they do look genuine to me.
The only thing that puzzles me is that he was kinda too young for vascular accidents... but again, I'm by far no expert.

[GazetaBitcoin]

I received these documents and would like to know what they say and if you think they're genuine.

Indeed, they look genuine to me as well.

A recent thread brought up some memories about a Romanian bitcoin ATM manufacturer and the theft of bitcoin from them (and me)

However, take into consideration that BitXatm is not a Romanian ATM manufacturer. Such ATMs do not exist in Romania. More over, their website - https://www.bitxatm.com/ - is not functional anymore, thus I have no idea from what country the manufacturer really is. According to CoinATMRadar though, such ATMs appear in US, UK and Finland (https://coinatmradar.com/manufacturer/19/bitxatm-bitcoin-atm-producer/) and, according to same website, they are produced by a German company: Global Funds Transfer (GFT) GmbH.

A recent thread brought up some memories about a Romanian bitcoin ATM manufacturer and the theft of bitcoin from them (and me)

Could you offer some more information about how you became the victim? As far as I saw from the links you provided, the thief stole money from the ATM, not from you...

Also, if you could dig up some more info regarding the case and what happened to the stolen bitcoin it would be awesome.

Such investigation is not easy and requires months of work. Now I am not an expert in this field, but I managed, after several months of intensive work, to find the truth about an ex-forum treasurer, which was said he died, but there were suspicions he framed his death. However, the man really died.

Anyway, I have some experience, as I managed to solve a mystery of the forum regarding a similar situation (the ex-treasurer was also Romanian), but it's not easy.

If this helps you, at a first glance, I found this: https://www.diicot.ro/index.php/arhiva/1969-comunicat-de-presa-15-01-2017. This is an official press release of DIICOT, which is an official State agency in charge with investigating (and preventing) organized crime. DIICOT stand for "Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism". The press release says

On 09.03.2017 the prosecutors of DIICOT issued an arrest warrant for 24 hours on the name NIŢĂ SORIN IONUŢ, presumed to have performed computer fraud, illegal access of computers without authorization and unauthorized transfer of information.

[...]

Between June 2016 and February 2017 he [...] accessed Bitcoin wallets, without authorization, transferring 73.91 BTC to himself, while the value of a BTC was 1000$.

On 10.03.2017 the Court from Braşov issued a mandate for arresting him for 30 days[...]

With other words, it's clear he was arrested.

Furthermore, according to another website (https://www.clujust.ro/procesul-primei-fraude-cu-bitcoin-din-romania-a-incetat-prima-instanta-acordase-despagubiri-de-78-bitcoin/) the thief was convicted to 2 years 9 months behind the bars and forced to pay 78.5268 BTC to "BITX ATM TECHNOLOGY SRL, whose former name was OCRMO Technology SRL". Now this becomes very interesting, as BITX ATM TECHNOLOGY SRL is a Romanian company indeed. So maybe the information for CoinATMRadar are not correct? Or is it just a name coincidence? Anyway, by searching the company name on the Internet I found also the Court decision - here: https://www.jurisprudenta.com/jurisprudenta/speta-14nszptb/.

It seems that the thief was an ex-employee of the company so again - how did he steal from you? In the Court decision it's stated that the thief, using company's credentials, stole 40.63 BTC from the account of a client from Dallas and transferred them to his personal account held at Kraken. Are you the client from Dallas? Also in the Court decision it's stated that the ATM company is Romanian but, however, I never heard of such ATMs in Romania. And apparently, he also involved a Romanian crypto exchange to hide the money tracks - Bitcoin Romania.


All in all, thank you for bringing this up. I was not aware of this case, although I am Romanian... It's incredible! And I am sorry for your loss.

From what I see, it's certain that the thief was arrested, taken into trial and convicted. According to the papers you provided, it seems that he died. However, in order to make sure of it, a months-long investigation would be required and the result is not guaranteed.

I am looking forward for more information from you about your prejudice and how you became a victim... If you need more digging, let me know. However, I can not promise anything.

[hmel]

However, take into consideration that BitXatm is not a Romanian ATM manufacturer. Such ATMs do not exist in Romania. More over, their website - https://www.bitxatm.com/ - is not functional anymore, thus I have no idea from what country the manufacturer really is. According to CoinATMRadar though, such ATMs appear in US, UK and Finland (https://coinatmradar.com/manufacturer/19/bitxatm-bitcoin-atm-producer/) and, according to same website, they are produced by a German company: Global Funds Transfer (GFT) GmbH.

The mother company was registered in Germany, yes. But the company that produced and operated the backend of the ATM's was romanian. They were produced in Brasov. The CEO and CTO were romanian (Catalin Tincu and Gabriel Prodanescu). The german company was just a shell. One of the victims I talked with had visited their office in Germany and it was just a Regus virtual office, I think. When the ATM broke down at one point I sent it to Brasov to get it fixed.

Could you offer some more information about how you became the victim? As far as I saw from the links you provided, the thief stole money from the ATM, not from you...

I was an owner and operator of one such machine. Since the wallets of the machines were custodial and BitX had access to them the said employee just transferred the funds from the ATM wallets to his own.
I have elaborated more about what happened here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5356230.msg57795081#msg57795081

It seems that the thief was an ex-employee of the company so again - how did he steal from you?

See above

In the Court decision it's stated that the thief, using company's credentials, stole 40.63 BTC from the account of a client from Dallas and transferred them to his personal account held at Kraken. Are you the client from Dallas?

No, but he cleaned out the wallets of multiple ATM operators. Didn't know about the Dallas one, but I know that besides my ATM he also stole the balances of Bitcoin Suisse and some Korean operator as well. I think the total stolen was more close to 100 BTC in total.

Also in the Court decision it's stayed that the ATM company is Romanian but, however, I never heard of such ATMs in Romania. And apparently, he also involved a Romanian crypto exchange to hide the money tracks - Bitcoin Romania.

I don't know if any operated in Romania, but they were produced there for sure.

All in all, thank you for bringing this up. I was not aware of this case, although I am Romanian... It's incredible! And I am sorry for your loss.

From what I see, it's certain that the thief was arrested, taken into trial and convicted. According to the papers you provided, it seems that he died. However, in order to make sure of it, a months-long investigation would be required and the result is not guaranteed.

I am looking forward for more information from you about your prejudice and how you became a victim... If you need more digging, let me know. However, I can not promise anything.

I have done some digging of my own, but the language barrier prevents me from understanding most of the things I find. If you could figure out if there were any BTC actually recovered and if there is a procedure for me to make a claim to recover at least part of my losses, that would be awesome.

[GazetaBitcoin]

The mother company was registered in Germany, yes. But the company that produced and operated the backend of the ATM's was romanian.

Oh, I see now. It makes sense. This is why I never heard of them before...

I was an owner and operator of one such machine. Since the wallets of the machines were custodial and BitX had access to them the said employee just transferred the funds from the ATM wallets to his own.

Now I understand this part as well, thank you.

No, but he cleaned out the wallets of multiple ATM operators. Didn't know about the Dallas one, but I know that besides my ATM he also stole the balances of Bitcoin Suisse and some Korean operator as well. I think the total stolen was more close to 100 BTC in total.

He was pretty lucrative, wasn't he? Sorry, I don't mean so sound ironic, I am just amazed of how... (how to say?) sophisticated thieves may be... This is so incredible...

I don't know if any operated in Romania, but they were produced there for sure.

No, such machines do not exist here... Maybe they were created especially for running them outside the country, for God knows what reasons...

I have done some digging of my own, but the language barrier prevents me from understanding most of the things I find. If you could figure out if there were any BTC actually recovered and if there is a procedure for me to make a claim to recover at least part of my losses, that would be awesome.

Indeed, language barrier is a heavy obstacle. I will try to find out more and come back to this topic when I'll have more information... However, I don't know when or if I will be able to do that. The next few days I will be in a vacation and I may try to dig more after I come back. However, my main problem is the lack of time... I am having two jobs at the moment and - believe me - as much as I'd like to help you, I literally have no free time. And, excepting the two jobs, I also have a small baby, which - obviously - needs my attention and most of my free time...

I am very sorry for your loss. And I will trey to help you with some more information, in time. I just don;t know when... But pay attention to this topic in time, as you'll see some updates from me at some moment

Cheers!

[hmel]

Indeed, language barrier is a heavy obstacle. I will try to find out more and come back to this topic when I'll have more information... However, I don't know when or if I will be able to do that. The next few days I will be in a vacation and I may try to dig more after I come back. However, my main problem is the lack of time... I am having two jobs at the moment and - believe me - as much as I'd like to help you, I literally have no free time. And, excepting the two jobs, I also have a small baby, which - obviously - needs my attention and most of my free time...

I am very sorry for your loss. And I will trey to help you with some more information, in time. I just don;t know when... But pay attention to this topic in time, as you'll see some updates from me at some moment

Cheers!

Thank you for taking the time! I've given up hope a long time ago, but the other thread brought back some memories that I decided to share with the community, and reignited my curiosity about what actually happened. Reading a translation of the court ruling you found (thanks for that), it seems no bitcoin were recovered, just some of his stuff got confiscated.

Good luck with the baby, and thanks again.

Cheers!