Verdict in the Case of the “Impersonators’ Gang”
A verdict has been issued against the defendants in the case known as the “Impersonators’ Gang.” The main organizer of the criminal scheme has been sentenced to 8 years in prison. The complex, multi-threaded investigation was conducted by the Central Anticorruption Bureau under the supervision of the Silesian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption in Katowice.
On October 17, 2025, a verdict was handed down in the so-called “Impersonators’ Gang” case after three years and 48 court hearings. The indictment included members of the criminal group who claimed influence, as well as individuals who offered or promised to offer them financial benefits in exchange for settling matters with public institutions or entities using public funds. The defendants were charged with a total of 58 crimes.
Officers from the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów conducted a multi-threaded and complex investigation between 2020 and 2022. The preparatory proceedings covered the activities of an organised criminal group whose members invoked influence in state institutions and organisational units disposing of public funds in 2019-2020, in particular in the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Defence, the Internal Security Agency, the Police, PKN Orlen S.A., and PKO BP S.A., and acted as intermediaries in settling matters in exchange for financial benefits.
Scale of Financial Benefits
The investigation revealed that, in exchange for financial benefits, members of the criminal group promised to resolve matters including the dismissal of criminal cases and tax proceedings, release from custody, and the sale of agricultural land belonging to the State Treasury.
Claiming influence within the Ministry of Finance, they promised to obtain additional, undue funding from the Polish Development Fund (PFR). Another case the suspects undertook involved securing contracts for the supply of crude oil to PKN Orlen S.A.
For handling this matter, they received financial benefits totaling USD 220,000 and EUR 71,000.
One of the defendants, claiming influence in the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) and collaborating with other group members, received EUR 50,000 in exchange for changes to the S7 expressway construction project. The bribe was paid to ensure an additional road exit leading directly to the property of the individual offering the bribe.
One member of the group posed as an officer of special services. He claimed connections to top-level politicians and individuals capable of influencing decisions, including ministers, officials, law enforcement officers, and CEOs of state-owned companies. To bolster credibility, he used mock weapons and badges resembling those of special services.
The investigation found that the suspects had no actual influence over the matters they claimed they could arrange, nor over public officials or decision-makers involved in the cases.
Unresolved Matters
It is important to note that none of the matters for which bribes were offered were ultimately resolved. Those who paid bribes were told that unfavorable outcomes were allegedly due to failure to provide further payments.
Funds obtained through criminal activities were invested in real estate and movable property to conceal their true origin. Third-party bank accounts were used for this purpose.
Sentencing
Sixteen defendants were convicted. Individuals claiming influence in public institutions received custodial sentences, while those offering financial benefits received prison sentences, some conditionally suspended. The main organizer of the scheme was sentenced to 8 years in prison. The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets equivalent to the financial benefits gained from crimes, amounting to PLN 4,029,692.
The verdict represents a success and confirms the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts.
CBA Press Team
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CBA
