Dallas, TX
3 Romanian nationals arrested in Dallas, accused of ATM skimmer scheme, officials say
Three men with ties to Romania were arrested last week in Dallas and are accused of participating in an ATM skimming operation in North Texas, authorities say.
Authorities identified the three men as: Mihai Florin Marinescu, 37; Nelu Nae, 36; and Mihai Vlaicu, 47. All three were at the Tarrant County jail Thursday afternoon, online records showed.
John Haecker, a Euless police detective who was one of the investigators on the case, said arrest warrants for the three men were based on two skimmers that were installed on ATMs in Tarrant County. Authorities later found a third skimmer at a bank, Haecker told The Dallas Morning News.
“We are not aware of any skimmers being placed outside of Tarrant County,” Haecker said. “We’ve done a pretty exhaustive search to find additional locations.”
Authorities arrested the trio about 2:30 a.m. June 14in Old East Dallas at a short-term rental property in the 5300 block of Ash Lane, he said. Investigators found more skimming devices at a storage unit near the rental property, Haecker said.
Haecker declined to say which specific locations in Tarrant County authorities found skimmers, but added that none were in Euless.
The investigation was spurred by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, a partnership between the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, according to a Tuesday news release.
The three men used a combination of “deep-insert” skimmers — which are harder to detect — and pinhole cameras to steal personal identification numbers.
“The information captured by these deep-insert skimmers can be used to create hundreds of cloned debit or credit cards, ultimately stealing money out of the victims’ bank accounts,” the release stated.
Authorities found dozens of illicit devices used for credit card skimming as part of the investigation.
Haecker said the three men are “probably part of a larger ring.”
Each man is accused of engaging in organized criminal activity. Additionally, Marinescu and Nae are accused of unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications, online records showed.
As of about 7 p.m. Tuesday, Marinescu and Nae’s bail had been set at $105,000, and Vlaicu’s total bail is $95,000, online records showed.
Dallas, TX
2026 Dallas Cowboys schedule officially announced
Behold the 2026 Dallas Cowboys schedule.
We knew coming into Thursday that the Cowboys would be on the road to take on the New York Giants in the season opener on Sunday Night Football, that Dallas is “hosting” the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil in Week 3, and that the Philadelphia Eagles would be in town for Thanksgiving Day. Now we know it all.
Among the first things that jump to mind is that bye week is late. Dallas isn’t on bye until Week 14, the Sunday of that week is December 13th for full perspective.
The Cowboys also only play twice in their own building, thanks to the Brazil game, before November. Sometimes those weird quirks show up in schedules and this is certainly one of them.
It is interesting to see that the NFL gave Dallas the longest amount of rest possible after their Thanksgiving tilt. It hasn’t been uncommon for the league to have the Cowboys play on consecutive Thursdays, but perhaps that is a thing of the past.
Dallas, TX
Dallas Approves $180,500 for New Botham Jean Boulevard Street Signs
Flashit Photography
On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved funding that will replace highway exit signs and road signs marking Lamar Street with new signage honoring Botham Jean, the 26-year-old Dallas accountant who was fatally shot in his own apartment by an off-duty Dallas police officer in 2018.
The $180,500 in funding for 13 signs to be installed by the Texas Department of Transportation is the final step in the street renaming that was unanimously approved by the council in 2021. The new signs will be placed at exits along Interstate 45, State Highway 310 and U.S. Highway 175.
Already, Botham Jean Boulevard signs run along the road in the Cedars, where Jean lived before he was killed.
“This street on which he chose to live and the street on which he died can serve as a lasting memory of the upstanding resident who loved Dallas so much,” his mother, Allison Jean, told the council in 2021.
Jean was shot by Amber Guyger, a Dallas police officer, after she entered his apartment believing it was her own. A Dallas jury found Guyger guilty of murder in 2019 and sentenced her to 10 years in prison. She has also been ordered to pay the Jean family nearly $100 million in a civil trial, which accused her of using excessive force.
The Jean family is seeking restitution from the city of Dallas because they argue that Dallas, as Guyger’s former employer, had a duty to defend Guyger and pay out claims brought against her. The Jean family filed suit against the city in April of this year.
On Wednesday, city council member Adam Bazaldua stated that the continued remembrance of Jean’s name is a reminder that “no one is above the law.”
“This has never simply been about changing street signs; it has always been about commemorating a life that was taken too soon,” said Bazaldua. “When driving down Botham Jean Boulevard, we are reminded of the thousands of lives lost across the country each year to senseless gun violence.”
Bazaldua said that once city leaders were made aware that some signs from the initial 2021 street name change had not materialized, the horseshoe took steps to correct the oversight “somewhat promptly.” But he acknowledged that Wednesday’s funding came on the heels of community advocacy urging the project’s completion.
Community leader Yafeuh Balogun said his organization, Community Movement Builders, began asking the city for the updated signs in September 2025. Addressing the council ahead of Wednesday’s vote, Balogun encouraged the horseshoe to vote in favor of the funds because it “would make no sense” to not follow through with the street renaming approved years ago.
“I think this is very powerful simply because driving here today, I still saw the Lamar Street Signs,” Balogun said. “I remember how powerful it was back in 2021 when the city council voted to rename Lamar Street to Botham Jean. I’d like to keep that legacy going.”
Dallas, TX
World Cup volunteers receive uniforms, new tickets released
We’re less than a month out from the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and North Texans volunteering in the event have received their uniforms. FOX 4’s Peyton Yager has more on that and the new hospitality tickets released today.
-
Colorado6 minutes ago
Families, care providers navigate cuts to Colorado’s Community Connector program | Rocky Mountain PBS
-
Connecticut12 minutes agoARREST WARRANT: Georgia man accused of laundering nearly $63K from dead person’s account in Connecticut
-
Delaware18 minutes agoKent, Sussex Counties see rising share of Delaware roadway deaths in 2026
-
Florida24 minutes agoFlorida Wawa gas station plans approved for new Treasure Coast store
-
Georgia30 minutes agoGeorgia sample ballot for the 2026 primary elections shows every race to vote on this year
-
Hawaii36 minutes ago20 years in the making: County purchases Honolulu Landing property – West Hawaii Today
-
Idaho42 minutes agoMeet the candidates in Idaho’s biggest legislative primaries
-
Indiana54 minutes agoIndiana law enforcement takes up donations for Special Olympics