Eight arrested in connection with Montgomery County organized crime theft ring

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Eight people have been arrested in connection with a series of residential and commercial burglaries in Montgomery County, Baltimore County and surrounding jurisdictions, the Montgomery County Police Department announced Friday. The suspects are believed to be part of a Romanian organized crime group called the “Roma crew”.

The arrests were made Oct. 24 after officers with the 5th Precinct’s Special Task Force located suspicious vehicles near a residence on Essex View Drive that had reportedly been broken into several times in recent weeks. Officers from the 4th and 6th Districts responded to assist as the suspects moved to a residence on Garnkirk Forest Drive in Clarksburg, where police observed them committing another burglary.

Following the Clarksburg burglary, the suspects were tracked to a WaWa store on S. Frederick Avenue. With assistance from Gaithersburg Police, officers successfully apprehended all suspects without incident. Seven of the suspects were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and charged with burglary-related offenses. A female suspect was transported to a local hospital and has not yet been identified.

Among those taken into custody are:

Mercedes Iordache, 50
Titina Sardaru, 57
Lorena Enache, 37 years old
Flavius Stoican, 44
Dumitru Velcu, 29
Denisa Chiciu, 29
Anisoara Iordache, 54

The arrests involved a coordinated effort by the 5th and 6th District Community Action Teams, Gaithersburg Police, multiple district detective offices and special assignment teams, as well as K9 units.

The investigation remains active and authorities have indicated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Mercedes Iordache (Original image)