Six men were arrested for allegedly stealing over $60,000 worth of fuel from multiple gas stations in the Tampa Bay area, officials announced Monday.
Luis Alcade-Hernandez, Albert Aleman-Gonzalez, Nestor Flores-Rodriguez, Javier Penate-Berbe, Jesus Andres Perez-Cueto, and Danys Vazquez-Sosa were all charged last week for stealing thousands of dollars worth of gasoline from Florida gas stations in what officials called “Operation Empty Tank,” according to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
“While we have identified just over $60,000 in gas theft from seven documented events, we believe these men are responsible for far more money in theft due to their operation running nearly every day of the week,” Chronister said, according to NBC News. “This was very clearly an organized crime ring, and these suspects were not new to the business.”
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The alleged ringleader, Willian Penate-Arencibia, is still at large.
The theft began in February when two Circle K’s found they were missing $25,000 in fuel that the thieves then sold at half price, officials said. Both stations saw seven trucks drive in and out multiple times in a 12-hour period at both stations, according to a statement from Circle K.
Detectives for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office additionally discovered someone had broken into gas pumps and placed a device that disabled the cost of gasoline, meaning the men were paying pennies per gallon and wracking up thousands of dollars of fuel, authorities alleged.
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The men have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft, and accessing electronics without authority. However, additional charges may be added.
Gas prices in the country have risen in recent months. The national average for gas currently is $4.17, down from the highest-recorded national average in U.S. history, which was recorded on March 11 at $4.33, according to AAA. The average for gas in Florida on Tuesday is $4.15.
