Deonelky Tabares Cid, 36, of Tampa, has pleaded guilty to a slew of charges related to a complex conspiracy involving gas pump skimmers, counterfeit credit cards, and the large-scale theft of diesel fuel across Alabama, Louisiana, and Northern Florida.
Cid and his accomplices targeted gas stations in these states, installing skimmers on gas pumps to capture credit and debit card data from unsuspecting customers. This stolen information was then used to create counterfeit cards, which were used to fraudulently purchase diesel fuel.
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The Mechanics of the Heist
The conspirators were equipped with vehicles modified to include a hidden fuel bladder system. This allowed them to seemingly pump fuel into their gas tanks while secretly diverting the stolen diesel into the concealed bladders. The stolen fuel was then offloaded into tanker trucks at a fuel yard and sold to a gas station associated with one of the co-conspirators.
Sentencing and Co-Defendants
Cid faces serious prison time for his crimes, with a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft and the potential for decades more on the conspiracy, wire fraud, and access device fraud charges. His sentencing date is yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, Cid’s alleged partners in crime – Luis Edel Trujillo Pena, Deyvis Hernandez, Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa, and Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo – are scheduled to stand trial in January 2025.
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Extensive Investigation
This case involved a multi-agency investigation, including the FBI, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. General Services Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein is prosecuting the case.
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