GRENADA COUNTY, Mississippi — Two people were arrested Thursday after deputies stopped a vehicle believed to be connected to a multistate cybercrime investigation, the Grenada County Sheriff’s Office said.
The office said the traffic stop occurred March 12 at about 12:30 p.m. after investigators received information that a white Toyota Highlander with Virginia license plates was traveling north on Interstate 55 near the Holmes and Carroll county line approaching Grenada County.
Officials said the lead came through a joint effort involving the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Louisiana and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division–Cyber Fraud Task Force. Investigators said the vehicle’s occupants were wanted in connection with cybercrimes allegedly committed in Texas and Louisiana, and that other states may be involved as the probe continues.
Deputies arrested Cosmin Vaduva and Elena Caldareasa and recovered numerous documents, thousands of dollars in U.S. currency, multiple credit, debit and gift cards, various financial instruments and three overlay skimmers during a search of the vehicle, officials said. Skimmers are devices used to capture payment card data.
Vaduva and Caldareasa are being held in the Grenada County Jail on local charges and are awaiting extradition to Louisiana, officials said. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
