Five members of a multi-state gas pump skimming and fuel theft ring were arrested in Florida on aggravated identity theft and fraud charges.
United States Attorney Roger Handberg recently announced the return of an indictment charging five individuals with conspiracy, 4 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of access device fraud, and 3 counts of aggravated identity theft.
The following individuals have been charged in the indictment in connection with their participation in a multi-state gas pump skimming device conspiracy involving the theft of diesel fuel:
29-year-old Luis Edel Trujillo Pena, of Miami- 37-year-old Deyvis Hernandez, of Miami
- 32-year-old Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa, of Miami
- 38-year-old Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo, of Jacksonville
- 36-year-old Deonelky Tabares Cid, of Tampa.
If convicted each faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of access device fraud, up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count, a consecutive minimum mandatory penalty of two years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft count, and payment of restitution to the victims they defrauded.
According to court documents, the individuals worked together, and with others, to place skimmers on gas pumps in the north Florida area and other states. Using the account numbers stolen by the skimmers, they made counterfeit credit and debit cards and then used them to purchase primarily diesel fuel.
Utilizing vehicles with a bladder/container to pump the fraudulently purchased diesel fuel into, the conspirators would offload the stolen fuel into containers at a fuel yard. The stolen fuel was then sold to a gas station associated with one of the co-conspirators.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, U.S. General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
