JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Luis Edel Trujillo Pena, a 29-year-old from Miami, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, according to the United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Pena faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, up to 5 years for conspiracy, and a minimum of 2 years for identity theft, along with restitution payments to victims.
Court documents reveal that Pena and his co-conspirators installed skimmers on gas pumps in Alabama, Louisiana, and Northern Florida, including the Florida Panhandle. These devices were used to illegally obtain credit and debit card numbers from customers purchasing fuel. The stolen data was then used to create counterfeit cards, which Pena distributed to purchase large amounts of diesel fuel. The conspirators used vehicles equipped with a fuel bladder system to siphon fuel, which was later transferred to 9,500-gallon tanker trucks and sold to a gas station linked to a co-conspirator.
Deonelky Tabares Cid, a 36-year-old from Tampa, has also pleaded guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing. Meanwhile, Deyvis Hernandez, Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa, and Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo are scheduled for trial in January 2025. The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.