Office of Agriculture lawmen arrest suspected fuel thieves

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. — This week, investigators with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) arrested two individuals in Alachua County following an investigation into a scheme to defraud businesses and consumers by stealing fuel using fraudulent credit/debit cards as well as utilizing fuel pump pulser manipulation devices, the FDACS said.

This follows the recent FDACS OALE arrests of four other individuals in Pasco and Polk counties who were attempting to tamper with gas pumps and steal fuel.

“At FDACS, we take seriously our responsibility to protect Florida’s consumers and businesses from theft and fraud – with these most recent fuel theft cases encompassing both,” said Nikki Fried, FDACS Commissioner.

“With gas prices hitting record highs, fuel theft can further drive-up costs for all consumers,“ she said.

Background:

In late February, FDACS OALE began investigating an organized group perpetrating a scheme to defraud businesses and consumers by stealing fuel using fraudulent credit/debit cards and fuel pump pulser manipulation devices in Marion, Sumter, and Alachua counties.

On March 16, 2022, OALE investigators said they located one of the suspect vehicles at a gas station in Alachua County and observed criminal activity in progress.

OALE investigators reported that they saw several illegal fuel tanks in the bed of the truck, watched two suspects pumping fuel into canisters in the rear of the vehicle, and determined the fuel was being obtained illegally.

Upon inspection of the pump, investigators said they found that a fuel pump pulser manipulation device had been installed.

OALE investigators arrested Alfredo Quintana Marrero and Jose Luis Hernandez Verano, who were both booked into the Alachua County Jail on the following felony charges:

• Arrestee: Alfredo Quintana Marrero of Orlando, Florida
  • Charges: Violation of Section 815.06(3)(b)(2), Florida Statutes, Unauthorized Access to Electronic Equipment; Second-Degree Felony; 1 count; Violation of Section 806.13(1)(b)(3), Florida Statutes, Criminal Mischief (Interruption or Impairment to a Business Operation); Third-Degree Felony; 1 count; Violation of Section 316.80 (1) Florida Statutes, Unlawful Conveyance of Fuel; Third-Degree Felony; 1 count; Violation of Section 316.80(2)(d), Florida Statutes, Obtaining fuel by Fraud; Second-Degree Felony; 1 count; Violation of Section 817.625(2)(c), Florida Statutes, Possession of a skimming device; Third-Degree Felony; 3 counts.

• Arrestee: Jose Luis Hernandez Verano of Orlando, Florida
  • Charges: Violation of Section 815.06(3)(b)(2), Florida Statutes, Unauthorized Access to Electronic Equipment; Second-Degree Felony; 1 count; Violation of Section 806.13(1)(b)(3), Florida Statutes, Criminal Mischief (Interruption or Impairment to a Business Operation); Third-Degree Felony; 1 count.

Bond for Marrero and Verano will be set by the court at first appearance. The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) stopped a second suspect vehicle that had fled the scene and arrested those suspects on similar charges.