What looked like routine late-night fill-ups across North Texas was allegedly a full-blown diesel-theft operation, and now five people are in custody after a multi-agency investigation pulled the plug. Last Friday, investigators hit three locations at once, serving search warrants at two spots in Irving and one in Arlington, where they say they found card-skimming gear, altered payment cards, and vehicles outfitted with hidden fuel compartments.
Authorities allege the crew was siphoning roughly 1,500 to 2,500 gallons of diesel per night, then stashing the stolen fuel in those concealed tanks. All five suspects are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony under Texas law.
Searches and evidence
Investigators say that last Friday's raids turned up 10 skimming devices, about 50 altered payment cards, and a laptop wired to a re-encoding device, according to NBC 5 DFW. They estimate the operation was running five to six nights a week, and that shutting it down likely prevented roughly $10 million in additional losses. The Garland Police Department had reached out to the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in late April for help, which kicked off the multi-jurisdictional probe.
How investigators say the scheme worked
Officials say the suspects allegedly installed skimmers on high-flow diesel pumps to grab card data, then copied that information onto counterfeit cards that were used to buy bulk fuel, a pattern the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center has warned is common among organized skimming crews. In related federal prosecutions, investigators have described nearly identical setups that relied on portable encoders and cloned cards to move stolen fuel and drain victim accounts, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In this North Texas case, authorities say incidents tied to the alleged ring stretch as far as Smith County.
Who was arrested and which agencies were involved
Police arrested Jael Diaz Morejon and Adriana Castillo Oliveros in Arlington and booked them into the Tarrant County Jail. In Irving, officers arrested Noel Pena Rodriguez and Carlos Virgilio Lopez Coba, who were taken to the Dallas County Jail. A fifth suspect, Betsy Santiesteban Lopez, was detained yesterday as she arrived from Mexico, according to NBC 5 DFW.
The operation pulled in a long roster of agencies: the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, the Smith County district attorney’s office, police departments in Garland, Irving, and Arlington, Texas DPS special operations and anti-gang units, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force. In other words, a lot of badges showed up for this one.
Legal implications
All five suspects face the same charge of engaging in organized criminal activity, which in Texas can ratchet up the penalties tied to the underlying crimes. A first-degree felony in the state carries a potential sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison, along with fines up to $10,000, according to Texas Penal Code § 71.02. Prosecutors are reviewing the seized evidence before filing formal court documents.
What drivers and station owners should watch for
For everyday drivers, officials recommend paying with contactless methods whenever possible, giving card readers a quick inspection for loose panels or odd hardware, and keeping a close eye on bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar charges. Station owners can help cut off schemes like this by securing pump housings, using tamper-evident seals, and tracking fuel flow for any strange spikes or drops. The Texas FCIC offers public resources on spotting and reporting pump skimmers.
Anyone who notices suspicious equipment at a pump or unexplained fuel charges is urged to contact local law enforcement and their financial institution immediately.
The investigation is still active, and authorities say more arrests or additional charges could follow as they sift through digital evidence and other seized materials. Coverage will be updated as prosecutors file cases and court records become public.
