Authorities say they have disrupted a huge diesel fuel theft ring that targeted truck stops throughout North Texas.
The Garland Police Department initiated an investigation in April 2026 after receiving many allegations of stolen fuel and credit card numbers.
The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) discovered that an organized criminal cell installed card skimming devices on diesel pumps to capture payment card information and use it to get fuel from truck stops across North Texas.
Authorities calculated that the group stole between 1,500 and 2,500 gallons of diesel per night, five to six nights a week, by pumping the gasoline into secret compartments installed into the vehicles they were driving. Investigators also discovered that the organization had installed skimming devices on fuel pumps as far afield as Smith County, Texas,” the FCIC claimed.
On June 12, 2026, different agencies executed search warrants at two locations in Irving and one in Arlington concurrently.
The searchers discovered “a significant quantity of skimming-related equipment,” which included 10 card skimmer devices, 50 changed payment cards, and a laptop computer linked to a re-encoding device.
FCIC stated that shutting up the organized stealing organization saved Texans $10 million in fraud losses.
The following five people were arrested for engaging in organized criminal activity, which is a first-degree felony.
- Jael Diaz Morejon – arrested during the Arlington operation
- Adriana Castillo Oliveros – arrested during the Arlington operation
- Noel Pena Rodriguez – arrested during the Irving operation
- Carlos Virgilio Lopez Coba – arrested during the Irving operation
- Betsy Santiesteban Lopez – arrested while arriving from Mexico on a flight on June 15, 2026
“Friday’s operation reflects the exceptional coordination and commitment of our local, state, and federal partners,” said Captain Jeff Headley, Field Operations, Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center. “The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center was created by the Texas Legislature for the purpose of coordinating large-scale investigations such as this, and we are privileged to lead an effort that protects the citizens of Texas.”
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