“Thief in law” Ion Guşan and four interlopers from the group “Patron” were condemned by the Court of Appeal from Bucharest, with right of appeal, to 5 and 6 years in prison for creating a cross-border group of organized crime, specializing in human trafficking. Simultaneously, their names appear on another case of organized crime, specializing in counterfeiting and cigarette smuggling. In this story, appears the name of Romanian lawyer Daniel Trandafirescu, son of Zinica Trandafirescu judge of the Court Prahova, who had the role of “informant and protector” of the criminal group.

Ion Gushan, 42 years old, a citizen of Moldova and Romania, known in the underworld as “Nicu Patron”, since 2001 having the status of “thief in law” – criminal of higher grade, originally from CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), responsible of respecting the law by the clan, gang organization and “judge” those who violate discipline in the criminal group, as well as collection, recording and distribution of income of each criminal nuclei subordinated by him.

According to Romanian prosecutors, various members of the group “Patron” came to the attention of the judicial authorities of Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russian Federation, but also in other European countries such as France, Italy and Germany, being investigated for illegal trafficking of persons, prostitution, smuggling of counterfeit goods, petroleum products and cigarettes, collecting protection fees, money laundering, usury lending, extortion, violent crimes and settle accounts, actions of robbery and burglary and corruption of public officials.

2007. Human trafficking

In 2007, prosecutors Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism from Romania opened a criminal case on behalf of the international underworld Ion Gushan and his lieutenants: Valeriu Gori – the second most important member in the hierarchy of the group, the man trusted and right hand of “Nicu Patron”; Ion Oltean, aka “Nae”, and Gheorge Mihu, aka “Ghita”, both from Sibiu, being investigated for the creation of organized crime groups specializing in human trafficking, forgery of official and false identity.

At that time, the Romanian police in collaboration with the Romanian Intelligence Service found that “Nicu Patron” settling in Romania, has developed his criminal activity, creating a real criminal network – composed of Moldovan citizens and citizens of Romania – who act to commit serious crimes, generating large financial profits for members of the group, one of the segments the group was acting being trafficking of migrants originally from R. Moldova, who were transiting Romania with the destination: Italy, UK, Germany and Austria.

In this case, on November 21, 2013, the Bucharest Court of Appeal (CAB) condemned the “thief in law” Ion Guşan to 5 years imprisonment for “initiation, establishment of organized criminal group, membership or support of such a group”. Beside him, his lieutenants were convicted: Valeriu Gori and Gheorghe Mihu, aka “Ghita” – 5 years in prison, Ioan Oltean – 6 years in prison and Florinel Cercel – 3 years probation. CAB judgment is entitled to appeal to the High Court of Cassation and Justice of Romania (ÎCCJR).

2011. Counterfeiting and smuggling

In early 2011, the Romanian police stated that “group of Nicu Patron” created two clandestine factories for the production and packaging of counterfeit cigarettes, under strict coordination of the “thief in law” Ion Guşan, exercised by his lieutenants and trusted people – persons on the level of crime control group, who were in charge of the location of two clandestine factories in Prahova and Brasov County.

For almost two years, “Patron’s group” was the focus of Romanian police, prosecutors and SRI officers, so that, on September 19, 2013 to be held 12 of its members. According to the decision of September 21, 2013, by the Court of Appeal Bucharest, underworld were arrested for a period of 29 days, and later, the same court extended the remand until 19^th of December 2013. Detainees are accused of initiating and establishing a cross-border organized crime group, criminal counterfeiting products and putting them into circulation, crimes of deception etc.

In this case, also figures lawyer Daniel Trandafirescu, son of deputy chief IJP Prahova and of judge Zinica Trandafirescu from Prahova Court. In the evidences gathered by Romanian investigators, it shows that Daniel Trandafirescu was recruited into criminal group to ensure the “protection” on the Prahova County, meaning to find in short time any possible action by the police authorities or control on the possible identification of the clandestine factory location. However, as roles and responsibilities within the criminal group, defendant Daniel Trandafirescu also handled the paperwork for calling to Romania (invitations required to obtain an entry visa to Romania) for several Moldovan citizens on lower levels of performance in the group, whose presence in Romania was required for specific activities arranged by its leaders, circumscribed to complex criminal activity carried out.

Also, Daniel Trandafirescu handle transmission to Moldova of invitations for workers from illegal cigarette factory, through drivers of buses that are scheduled Romania – Republic of Moldova, as directed by the defendant Valeriu Gori. All documentation prepared and transmitted to the destination Moldova was taken at destination by defendant Vladimir Luca, who was also dealing directly with visas.

2013. Capturing lieutenants

On the day when members of ‘Patron’s group” were captured and arrested in Romania, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean said in a press conference that “Ion Gusan is the last “thief in law” who was at liberty. The others are all in prison”, said Recean.

On 8^th of October 2013, the Police Department of Chisinau with support staff of Brigade with Special Purpose “Fulger” conducted 48 searches in Chisinau, at the members of the criminal group led by “thief in law” Ion Guşan, specializing in counterfeiting and marketing cigarettes in Romania. Within authorized home and car searches of suspects, the capital police spotted and raised raw material for counterfeiting cigarettes. Was found feedstock for packaging, such as filters, special paper – 5 thousands meters, 80 meters of polyethylene, foil, boxes with counterfeit cigarettes, notes with recipes for producing cigarettes, including electronic supports useful for prosecution action.

Simultaneously, it was discovered an arsenal of weapons and ammunition, some illegally kept, including a machine gun model “AKMC MФ-1”, “FSN 01KV”, pistols and revolvers, a hunting shotgun with smooth bore, chargers, cartridges with bullets and Interpol badges  with obvious signs of tampering. Currently, police officers from Chisinau in collaboration with Romanian prosecutors are continuing the work of documentation and prosecution both of the “Patron’s group” from Romania, as well as those from Moldova.

Iurie SANDUȚA iurie.sanduta@zdg.md