Florin Birzan/Romania/Fraud

Romanian national Florin Birzan was arrested in Milan, Michigan, on a fraud case linked to an alleged check‑theft and bank‑fraud scheme that targeted churches across Metro Detroit. Federal court filings describe Birzan as part of a group accused of stealing mailed donation checks from church mailboxes, then depositing them into accounts opened with foreign identification and a Texas address. Investigators say surveillance placed Birzan driving a vehicle through multiple church parking lots while associates repeatedly pulled mail from locked boxes, tying him to a broader pattern of stolen checks and fraudulent deposits.

Birzan was taken into custody on federal fraud‑related charges, including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and possession of stolen mail. Prosecutors allege the group siphoned tens of thousands of dollars intended for religious institutions, and Birzan now faces potential prison time and immigration review due to his Romanian citizenship and alleged role in the fraud conspiracy.