A multi-state criminal operation specializing in gas pump skimming and fuel theft has seen another member plead guilty to serious charges, including aggravated identity theft and fraud. Luis Edel Trujillo Pena, 29, of Miami, admitted to his role in the scheme that affected gas stations across Alabama, Louisiana, and Northern Florida, as reported by the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Pena is now facing substantial time behind bars, with the potential to be sentenced to up to 20 years for wire fraud, five years for conspiracy, and a mandatory minimum of two years for the aggravated identity theft count. The operation involved installing skimmers to illicitly gather credit and debit card details from unsuspecting gas station customers. The stolen information was then used by Pena and his accomplices to create counterfeit cards, which were manipulated to quickly purchase large quantities of diesel fuel.
The fraudulent activity went further than just card skimming. Pena and other collaborators transported the illegally obtained fuel in vehicles equipped with a special fuel bladder system disguised to appear as routine gas filling. This system enabled them to siphon fuel into a concealed tank rather than the vehicle's standard gas tank. Law enforcement agencies, through a combination of fuel purchase analyses, GPS data, video surveillance, and direct observation, pieced together the group's movements and activities, culminating in arrests and charges.
As per the official statement, Pena was involved in offloading the stolen diesel into large tanker trucks at a fuel yard. The illicit fuel was then sold to a gas station in collusion with the racket. Prior to Pena's guilty plea, Deonelky Tabares Cid, 36, of Tampa had already pleaded guilty to his part in the operation and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Meanwhile, the trial for the remaining defendants, Deyvis Hernandez, 37, Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa, 32, both from Miami, and Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo, 38, of Jacksonville, is scheduled for January 2025. Despite the charges, it is important to remember that an indictment is not a conviction, and all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty. This complex investigation brought together the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Highway Patrol, and various other law enforcement agencies, reflecting the serious nature of the crimes and the collaborative effort required to address such elaborate fraud schemes.
