Nichita Petruleac, a suspect originally from Moldova, is currently wanted by authorities in Marion County, Indiana, for his alleged role in a widespread fraud scheme. In August 2025, Petruleac entered the United States from Europe, utilizing a fraudulent Belgian passport under the false identity of Felix Lemmens. Once in the country, he opened bank accounts in North Carolina and established a fictitious business named La Bahia Auto Sales LLC. Through this operation, he allegedly created fake websites to sell classic cars, defrauding dozens of victims across multiple states. The investigation gained traction when a resident of Marion County filed a complaint with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after failing to receive a purchased vehicle. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executed search warrants to obtain financial, email, and cell phone records. Bank surveillance footage revealed Petruleac withdrawing large sums of cash in North Carolina. Using facial-recognition software, investigators matched images from the footage to a mugshot taken when Petruleac was arrested in North Carolina on larceny charges in December 2025. Evidence was presented to the October 2026 session of the Marion County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment and arrest warrant charging Petruleac with theft over $10,000. Records indicate that Petruleac left the United States and returned to Europe shortly after his North Carolina arrest. An arrest warrant has been entered into the National Crime Information Center database, and an alert has been sent to the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities state that if Petruleac re-enters the United States, he will be arrested and extradited to Marion County to face prosecution. Evidence has also been shared with other agencies nationwide to facilitate further legal action.