Credit card fraud & fuel-theft ring busted

WEST PALM BEACH, FL--U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says its agents have busted a major credit card and fuel theft ring.

For 18 months ICE, along with several other agencies, investigated the ring which they say used stolen credit cards to defraud businesses including Walmart, Murphy Oil and several independently-owned gas stations in Palm Beach County.

According to investigators, the organization’s leaders obtained stolen credit card numbers from Internet wholesalers and from others using credit card “skimming” devices. 

The credit card numbers were then encoded on gift cards, credit cards, drivers’ licenses, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security work authorization cards which members of the organization used to purchase large quantities of fuel and other items such as cars, trucks, speedboats, trailers, jet skis and other consumer goods, according to ICE.

Investigators also say they found vehicles used by the alleged thieves outfitted with large, illegal fuel tanks. In one case they said a van had more than seven hundred gallons of fuel inside four containers.

“This organization not only jeopardized public safety by illegally transporting huge amounts of explosive fuel in makeshift containers, they also indiscriminately used people’s good credit to support their criminal activities,” said Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami, in a written release.
     
The investigation led to the indictment of fourteen people. ICE says 13 of them have already pleaded guilty to access device fraud. 

Felix Montesino-Castillo, 30, also indicted in the case, remains a fugitive from justice, according to a news released from ICE.