Police say a Northeast Side man turned San Antonio gas pumps into his personal cash machine, running a credit-card skimming setup that allegedly funneled thousands of dollars in diesel into a fleet of trucks. Officers arrested 38-year-old Osvaldo Alvarez Benitez on Tuesday after a months-long probe into skimmers installed on pumps around the city, according to an arrest affidavit. Investigators say he used stolen card data to make cloned cards and that one victim, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, saw almost $12,000 in purchases charged to his account.
State records suggest this is not the first time Alvarez Benitez has appeared in a fuel-related inquiry. Case files from the Texas Comptroller’s Office list an Osvaldo Benitez-Alvarez in a Bexar County matter tied to alleged motor-fuel tax evasion, a second-degree felony that carries potential prison terms. That reference underscores how skimming and cloned-card operations often become part of larger fuel-theft and tax-evasion investigations.
Investigators say they served a search warrant at Alvarez Benitez’s home on Comanche Cave in April and found credit-card skimmers and parts inside the residence. Surveillance from a truck stop near Interstate 10 and Ackerman Road helped identify him, and the affidavit states he visited gas stations across town on a daily basis. Authorities allege Alvarez Benitez, who reportedly owns a trucking company, used the stolen data to create clone cards and fuel multiple big rigs. According to KSAT, a DPS spokesman declined to release further details about whether anyone else has been taken into custody.
How Investigators Say The Scheme Worked
Prosecutors allege Alvarez Benitez “used the stolen credit card information to make clone cards,” then used those cards at the pump to buy diesel for a fleet of trucks, according to the affidavit. The document also names him as a suspect in a similar case involving a U.S. Postal Service fleet card, suggesting the alleged operation did not stop with everyday drivers but may have tapped into government and commercial accounts as well. Evidence seized during the April search is now part of an ongoing investigation that state and federal authorities could review. KSAT reported details from the affidavit.
Skimmer Trend In San Antonio
Local officials say card skimmers are still a headache at area pumps, even though the number of devices actually recovered dipped last year. According to skimmer stings dip in San Antonio, San Antonio Police Department data obtained by KSAT showed officers found 40 skimmers in 2025, down from 51 in 2024, with the caveat that those figures only cover devices that were discovered and reported. Residents are urged to use tap-to-pay when they can and to flag suspicious-looking card readers. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 210-224-7867, and the San Antonio Police Department’s non-emergency line is 210-207-7273.
Legal Status And Next Steps
Alvarez Benitez remains in custody, and the case is listed as pending while investigators and prosecutors sort through the seized equipment and records. According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, motor-fuel tax evasion is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and potential fines, although any final charges in this case will depend on prosecutorial review and the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
