Press Release
PALM BEACH COUNTY CREDIT CARD FRAUD AND FUEL-THEFT RING DISMANTLED
August 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Investigations, Michael K. Fithen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Randy Donnelson, Director of Air Operations for Miami Air and Marine Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP AMO), Matthew Zetts, Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol, and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), announced the results of an 18-month investigation that targeted a Palm Beach County criminal organization that used stolen credit card numbers to defraud local businesses out of hundreds of thousand dollars. The defrauded businesses included Murphy Oil, Wal-Mart, and a number of independently-owned businesses and gasoline stations throughout Palm Beach County.
Fourteen individuals had been indicted as a result of the investigation, and 13 of them already have pled guilty to access device fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029. Yesterday, in federal district court in West Palm Beach, two remaining defendants, Eldis Julian Diaz, 42, and Ricardo Ruiz, 45, pled guilty before United States District Court Judge Kenneth Marra. The other defendants who have been convicted in the case are Javier Alonso-Gomez, 19; Felix Medero Garcia, 29; Juan Edel Dominguez, 26; Alcides Cabrera Toledo, 38; Yoanky Lopez Jorge, 25; Damian Luna Rodriguez, 36; Felix Armas Luna, 38; Oscar Montiel Martinez, 30; Yunier Garcia Olivera, 27 and brother, Osmany Garcia Olivera, 32 and Daniel Yanes Hernandez, 24. At sentencing, each defendant faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Felix Montesino-Castillo, 30, also indicted in the case, remains a fugitive from justice.
According to documents filed in the case, ICE special agents in West Palm Beach initiated this investigation following a November 14, 2007, alien smuggling event that resulted in a death at sea. The goal was to identify and dismantle the alien smuggling organization. During the investigation, agents uncovered the massive credit card fraud and fuel theft ring described in the Indictment.
As explained during court hearings in the case, the organization’s leaders obtained stolen credit card numbers from internet wholesalers and from local confederates using credit card “skimming” devices. The credit card numbers were then encoded on to gift cards, credit cards, drivers’ licenses, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security work authorization cards which members of the organization used to purchase large quantities of fuel and other items such as cars, trucks, speedboats, trailers, jet skis, and other consumer goods. Some of the vehicles that members of the organization used were outfitted with illegal fuel tanks. For example, a van that one of the defendants had been driving had over 700 gallons of fuel stored on board in four containers.
“Credit card fraud victimizes innocent people and, as this case demonstrates, is often a gateway to further criminal activity. The fuel thefts committed using stolen credit card information recklessly risked victimizing even more Palm Beach County residents,” said Acting United States Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman.
As reported during court hearings, law enforcement officials working with the Murphy Oil Criminal Investigations Division obtained video evidence of the defendants’ criminal activities. During a two-week period in September 2008, for example, the defendants stole thousands of dollars of fuel from certain Palm Beach County Murphy Oil fuel stations. Following the arrest of the defendants, two semi-tractor trailer trucks and one pickup truck were seized from members of the organization. Financial losses caused by the defendants’ fraud totaled approximately $750,000.
“This organization not only jeopardized public safety by illegally transporting huge amounts of explosive fuel in makeshift containers, they also indiscriminately used people’s good credit to support their criminal activities,” said Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami.
Mr. Sloman commended the efforts of investigators from ICE’s Office of Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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