BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Five Romanians have been linked to the theft of EBT benefits in Kern County. In court, prosecutor Anthony Yim said the Romanian Gypsy Church of Riverside is the bail sponsor for them. Court documents say Reverend Doru Bobby Moise, pastor of the Romanian Gypsy Church , knows defendant Bogdan Boceanu. Reports said Reverend Moise offered to post part of the $150,000 bond as a gift for a, "charitable contribution". The money would come from his business, Green Solution Environmental Services, where he is CEO and President. However, Moise said Thursday he regrets posting bond for the defendants, and was told by their family members, who attend his church, that they were victims in need of help. 17 News reached out to an FBI spokeswoman about Romanian crime rings. The spokesperson directed us to a year-old court case in San Diego, where seven people were charged with benefit theft there. California bill that would make it illegal to defend yourself pulled Six of whom were Romanian citizens. Their crimes are almost identical to the cases in Kern County. EBT account information is stolen to make fraudulent withdrawals at ATMs. Benefits are then drained from accounts almost immediately, typically early in the month, right after benefits are reloaded onto the cards. In the San Diego case, the U.S. Secret Service developed evidence that the defendants stole California EBT account information through skimmers. Often in communities with higher concentrations of public benefit recipients. U.S. Census data says Kern County has 922,529 residents. Human Services said it has 88,821 cases of cash aid and food stamps combined. The District Attorney's Office won't say if there is a Romanian crime ring operating in Kern County, or if the five Romanians accused of EBT theft were working together. ...read more read less