Romanian national charged with using false identity in vehicle-sale scam

A person was indicted by a federal grand jury in Las Vegas for allegedly using a fake identity in a fraudulent vehicle-sale scheme, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. 

According to court documents, Eustatiu Brat, a Romanian national also alleged to be in the country illegally, was found with a counterfeit Canadian passport and Quebec driver’s license on Feb. 26. Brat is also allegedly known as “Bosko Obradovic.”  

The documents were purportedly part of a scam to falsely advertise vehicles for sale online. 

“A false identity may help a fraudster gain a victim’s trust, but it will not shield them from federal prosecution,” stated U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. 

Brat is charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. 

If convicted, the statutory penalty is two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence, the release stated. 

Arraignment has been set for Aug. 21. 

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Task Force consisting of special agents with the FBI, HSI, ATF, IRS-CI, Metro Police, the United States Marshals Service and Nevada Gaming Commission. The case is being prosecuted by the District of Nevada. 

“Fraud schemes built on counterfeit identities are designed to look legitimate while stealing from unsuspecting victims,” stated Jonathan Sherwin, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas.