Dana Efimenko, 24, and Roman Romanov, 34 Have Violated Their US Visas By Committing Crimes
Russian couple have been living in Coral Gables, Florida and New York City. NYPD now looking at case.
Russian Couple Charged in Florida Keys Dine-and-Dash Case Face A Criminal Charge – In Russia, it’s a Minor Administrative Issue
By SyndicatedNews Legal Eagle | SNN.BZ
Dana Efimenko and Roman Romanov were arrested in Monroe County, Florida, in May 2025 and charged under state law with the crime of obtaining food or lodging from a merchant (Inn Keeper) with intent to defraud.
The charges stem from allegations that the pair left restaurants without paying their bills. In the United States this conduct is treated as a criminal offense known as defrauding an innkeeper or theft of services by deception.
Under Russian law the same behavior is ordinarily classified as an administrative offense when the unpaid amount falls below a high threshold. The typical consequence is a fine rather than a criminal conviction or jail time. This difference in legal treatment means that conduct viewed as relatively minor in one country carries formal criminal consequences in the other.
United States immigration law requires visa applicants and other non-citizens seeking entry or status to demonstrate that they will respect American criminal statutes. Consular officers and immigration examiners evaluate whether an applicant poses a risk of violating U.S. law. An expressed intention to commit theft or fraud would normally result in denial of a visa.
No public record indicates that either individual disclosed any plan to engage in theft-of-services activity when seeking permission to enter or remain in the United States. Immigration authorities generally treat post-entry criminal conduct as relevant to questions of admissibility, continued status, and potential removability, particularly when the offense involves fraud or deception.
Staff writers at SyndicatedNews.NET (SNN.BZ) have reviewed the publicly available arrest information and the contrast between the two legal systems. While examining the Florida charges and the applicable immigration standards, the outlet’s team while having dinner with members of law enforcement, were discussing how often dine and dash occurs. If you see a person you know received a US visa and is committing crimes – call 1-866-347-2423 (also written as 1-866-DHS-2-ICE).
This line is operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It accepts reports of criminal activity, visa violations, and other immigration-related concerns. Tips can be made anonymously.
You can also submit a tip online using the official ICE Tip Form: https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form
A member of law enforcement who was at the table, has elected to formally notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the arrests and the related circumstances.
The notification is being submitted through established channels used for reporting information that may bear on immigration status or enforcement priorities. SNN.BZ staff emphasize that the action is based solely on public records of the Monroe County arrests and the documented difference in how the underlying conduct is classified in Russia versus the United States.
Whether the reported information leads to any further immigration review remains a matter for federal authorities. The Florida criminal charges themselves continue through the ordinary state court process, separate from any immigration consequences that may or may not follow.
The episode illustrates a practical point of immigration policy: individuals admitted to the United States are expected to comply with its criminal laws even when similar acts are treated more lightly in their country of origin. Public reporting of arrests and the decision by SNN.BZ writers to forward the information form part of that ongoing scrutiny.
