PENDER COUNTY — The Pender County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation have exposed a money laundering operation with ties to Moldovan and Russian individuals.
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Valentin Virlizanu of Raleigh was arrested yesterday with the help of the Raleigh Police Department. An arrest warrant has also been issued for his brother, Vasile Virlizanu, who remains at large. The SBI is asking for the public’s assistance in locating him.
Investigators believe the scheme involved selling antique cars online through at least two different companies: Specialty Vehicles of Tulsa and Bonucci Auto of Arizona. Victims allegedly paid for vehicles that were never delivered, with total stolen funds estimated at $3 million.
Both men are facing several serious felony charges, including:
- Felony conspiracy
- Felony money laundering
- Felony obtaining property by false pretenses
- Felony use of a government computer to defraud
Valentin Virlizanu has since been released from the Pender County Detention Center after posting a $25,000 bond. He had his first appearance in court on July 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the Pender County Courthouse.
The agencies involved in this case include the Pender County Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Zebulon Police Department, and the SBI’s Coastal, Capital, Southeastern, and financial crimes units.
If anyone believes they’ve been scammed by Specialty Vehicles of Tulsa, Bonucci Auto of Arizona, or either of the Virlizanu brothers, they are encouraged to reach out to the North Carolina SBI’s Coastal District Office at 910-939-6200.
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