ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — There are 36,000 victims, in a major credit card skimming operation, and Orange County detectives said they arrested 13 people. The suspects were using the cards as well, detectives said.
Investigators said a suspect would walk up to a gas pump and slip a credit card skimmer over the scanner. The crooks were so advanced, that they would unlock the gas pump and place the skimmers inside, and then return later for the numbers.
Detectives call Omilquer Garcia Perez the mastermind behind an elaborate and profitable crime ring that spread across the state.
"It involved grand theft of thousands and thousands of diesel fuel," said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
An empty lot on Patch Road is vacant now, but last week it was A&A trucking. Perez is accused of using it as a front for a chop shop and a makeshift gas station.
There were three parts to his alleged illegal operation.
First, detectives explained Perez's right hand man, Frank Fuentes, was in charge of installing credit card skimmers in gas pumps to make fraudulent credit cards. They swiped more than 36,000 numbers.
A second group, investigators said, stole pickups and box trucks. VIN numbers were changed and the trucks were outfitted with large reservoir fuel tanks.
Lastly, a third group used the modified vehicles and bogus credits cards and purchased hundreds of gallons of diesel, which was later sold on the black market.
"They look like vehicles in disrepair. But look closely. These are actually fuel cells," said Ron Bell of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives said Perez made $10,000 a day selling fuel. They said he stole more than $1 million worth of vehicles and made more than $2 million in fraudulent charges in about 2 years.
Orange County's organized crime unit made 13 arrests, most are Cuban nationals.
Perez is still on the loose.
Though more than 36,000 credit card numbers were stolen, deputies said they weren't all used. They suggest you contact your credit card company to find out if you were as victim.
WFTV
