North Texas Diesel Theft Ring Busted After Stealing Millions in Fuel

A Sophisticated Crime Ring Hidden in Plain Sight

An organized group had installed payment card skimming devices on diesel pumps throughout North Texas, stealing card information and fraudulently purchasing diesel fuel with the stolen data. It was a scheme hiding in plain sight — at ordinary truck stops and fuel stations — and it ran for months before authorities caught on. Now, five people are behind bars and investigators say they stopped a criminal operation that could have cost the public tens of millions of dollars.

The Garland Police Department requested assistance from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) in late April 2026 after reports of stolen fuel and compromised payment card information. What started as a local complaint quickly ballooned into one of the most complex fuel theft investigations North Texas has seen in years.

Thousands of Gallons Stolen Every Single Night

Authorities estimate the thieves stole between 1,500 and 2,500 gallons of diesel per night, five to six times per week, by pumping the fuel into hidden compartments in their vehicles. To put that in perspective, a standard commercial tanker truck holds roughly 9,000 gallons — meaning this group was filling the equivalent of nearly a full tanker truck every few nights, all on stolen card data.

Investigators determined the group had allegedly installed skimming devices on high-flow diesel pumps across North Texas, including locations as far away as Smith County. The reach of the operation made it clear this was no small-time theft. According to the FCIC, the investigation prevented $10 million in additional fraud loss.

Coordinated Takedown Across Three Cities

On June 12, authorities executed three simultaneous search warrants at two locations in Irving and one location in Arlington. The coordinated raids were the result of weeks of careful surveillance and inter-agency collaboration. The operation involved the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, the Smith County District Attorney's Office, Garland Police Department, Irving Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Special Operations Group, Texas Department of Public Safety Anti-Gang Group, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.

Those arrested are Jael Diaz Morejon, Adriana Castillo Oliveros, Noel Pena Rodriguez, Carlos Virgilio Lopez Coba, and Betsy Santiesteban Lopez. All five suspects are charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a First-Degree Felony. Diaz Morejon, Castillo Oliveros, Pena Rodriguez, and Lopez Coba are Cuban nationals, and Santiesteban Lopez is a Mexican national. Santiesteban Lopez was arrested while arriving from Mexico on a flight on June 15, 2026. Two additional individuals located at the residences were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for administrative matters.

What This Means for Drivers and Businesses

Fuel pump skimming isn't just a problem for trucking companies — it hits everyday drivers too. When criminals compromise payment terminals at high-volume diesel stations, the stolen card data can be used far beyond just fuel purchases. Victims often don't realize their information has been stolen until fraudulent charges appear days or weeks later.

The case will be prosecuted by the Smith County District Attorney's Office in Tyler, Texas. With first-degree felony charges on the table, each suspect faces a potential sentence of five to ninety-nine years under Texas law. As fuel theft rings grow more sophisticated — using vehicle modifications, skimming hardware, and international networks — cases like this one underscore why multi-agency responses have become essential. The $10 million in prevented losses is a reminder that what looks like a pump at a truck stop can be the front line of a very serious crime.