INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man has agreed to plead guilty in a scheme involving more than 150 fraudulent food stamp cards and more than $95,000 in stolen SNAP benefits.
Luis Rodolfo Valero Aldana, 26, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, benefits fraud and possession of device-making equipment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
His co-defendant, Ana Virginia Lopez Macias, 29, of Indianapolis, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, seven counts of benefits fraud and possession of device-making equipment. Her jury trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 4, 2027.
According to court documents, the scheme began as early as December 2024 and continued through December 2025. Investigators say the defendants produced and used more than 150 fraudulent Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards using stolen information from…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.