A prominent activist in his native Covurlui County, jailed more than once for his activism, he was awarded the "White Cross" ("Crucea Albă"), the movement's highest distinction, and eventually became Codreanu's lieutenant. In 1932, he was one of five members of the Legion to be elected to Parliament on the lists of the "Corneliu Codreanu Grouping"; he was also the youngest member of the Parliament at the time. Stelescu, together with Codreanu, General Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul, Nichifor Crainic, and others, was tried for criminal conspiracy following the assassination of Prime Minister Ion G. Duca — all were acquitted by a jury comprising Legion sympathisers.