SMITH COUNTY, Texas — A man was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity in connection with diesel fuel thefts and stolen credit cards across the state, including in East Texas.
Officials say Ramon Perez-Torres, 31, of Mesquite, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, was part of group that stole diesel fuel using fraudulent credit card information and pulser tampering devices.
"A pulser is part of the motor fuel metering system that counts fuel flow and determines the amount of fuel flow per penny," the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) said. "The criminal tampering device slows down the pulser, allowing suspects to pump hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel for pennies on the dollar. The criminal investigation found that the group stole more than 10,000 gallons of fuel from gas stations in nine different counties across Texas."
The TDLR says law enforcement suspects a large number of people were part of the group, and eight of them – including Perez-Torres – were indicted.
Duniesky Gonzalez, the group’s ringleader, was convicted in June of engaging in organized criminal activity and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Camilla Concepcion was convicted of the same crime and sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to TDLR.
Two other members of the group are in the Smith County Jail awaiting trial. TDLR said three additional members of the group were indicted, but officials believe they fled Texas.
East Texas authorities involved in the investigation include:
- Canton Police Department
- Mabank Police Department
- Lindale Police Department
- Palestine Police Department
- Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
- Smith County Sheriff’s Office