TYLER, TEXAS — Five people have been arrested after authorities dismantled an organized diesel fuel theft ring accused of stealing thousands of gallons of fuel from truck stops across North Texas.

The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center said the group installed payment card skimmers on high-flow diesel pumps, stole card information, and used the stolen data to fraudulently obtain diesel.

Investigation Started After Reports in Garland

The investigation began in late April 2026 after the Garland Police Department requested assistance following multiple reports of stolen fuel and stolen card numbers.

Investigators determined that an organized group had been placing skimming devices on diesel pumps throughout the North Texas region.

Authorities said the group stole an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 gallons of diesel per night, five to six nights per week. The fuel was pumped into hidden compartments built into the vehicles the suspects were driving.

Investigators also found that skimming devices had been placed on fuel pumps as far away as Smith County, Texas.

Search Warrants Executed in Irving and Arlington

On Friday, June 12, 2026, multiple agencies executed three simultaneous search warrants at two locations in Irving and one location in Arlington.

Authorities said they recovered a significant amount of skimming-related equipment, including 10 skimmer devices and 50 altered payment cards.

Investigators also recovered a laptop computer connected to a re-encoding device that was allegedly used to write stolen card numbers onto new cards.

Officials estimated that breaking up the operation prevented approximately $10 million in additional fraud losses to Texans.

Five Suspects Arrested

The operation resulted in the arrest of five suspects:

Jael Diaz Morejon was arrested during the Arlington operation and is being held at the Tarrant County Jail.

Adriana Castillo Oliveros was arrested during the Arlington operation and is being held at the Tarrant County Jail.

Noel Pena Rodriguez was arrested during the Irving operation and is being held at the Dallas County Jail.

Carlos Virgilio Lopez Coba was arrested during the Irving operation and is being held at the Dallas County Jail.

Betsy Santiesteban Lopez was arrested while arriving from Mexico on a flight on June 15, 2026, and is being held at the Dallas County Jail.

Officials said Diaz Morejon, Castillo Oliveros, Pena Rodriguez, and Lopez Coba are Cuban nationals. Santiesteban Lopez is a Mexican national.

All five suspects are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. The case will be prosecuted by the Smith County District Attorney’s Office in Tyler.

Two additional people found at the residences were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for administrative matters.

Multi-Agency Operation

The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center led the operation with assistance from 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 DPS Anti-Gang Group, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force.

“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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