Fraud Ring That Made $3.4M From Gas Pump Skimmers Busted In NJ

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A multi-state conspiracy involving identity theft and illegal diesel fuel markets led to charges against 25 people and four companies. The investigation began in Gloucester Township.

The illegal enterprise stole credit card information to fraudulently purchase tens of thousands of diesel fuel, which were resold to trucking companies, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG), which announced the charges Thursday.

The suspects stole card information from thousands of victims by installing skimmers on card readers at gas pumps, the OAG said. The conspicuous devices record credit and debit card information, allowing it to be stolen on a "cloned" card.

With the stolen cards, the enterprise purchased tens of thousands of gallons of diesel, which were delivered and resold to trucking companies and other fuel providers, the OAG said. Some of the companies' owners and operators resold the fuel, despite clear indications of the illegal operation — one of the delivery vehicles was an ice cream truck, officials said.

The scheme went back to at least June 2022, resulting it $3.4 million in illegal profits, the OAG said.

The investigation began with the Gloucester Township Police Detective Bureau, which was looking into purchases of large amounts of diesel with stolen card information, says Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay.

"Through the hard work and collaborative efforts of state, county, and local law enforcement, individuals engaged in this widespread conspiracy have been identified, arrested and charged," MacAulay said.

In October 2023, Gloucester Township police and the county prosecutor's office alerted state detectives of the scheme.

When the gas stations were closed, the suspects unlocked fuel pumps with "master" keys and installed the skimmers inside, authorities said.

Their vehicles were outfitted with large fuel tanks. The operation's high-ranking members, including Carlos Alvarez-Moreno and Javier Reyes Linares, gave involved drivers the locations of the parked vehicles and the gas stations where they would use cloned cards to make fraudulent purchases, authorities said.

Overall, the enterprise made $665,797 in fraudulent purchases from card information stolen from more than 2,000 victims, the OAG said. About 500 cloned cards were recovered during arrests.

Enterprise members operated in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, authorities said.

All 25 suspects were charged with first-degree racketeering, while some received additional charges.

"I am very proud of the part that the Gloucester Township Police Department played to bring this organized crime ring to justice," said Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins.

The following people were charged:

• Enterprise leadership: Carlos Alvarez-Moreno.
• Management: Javier Reyes Linares.
• Management and facilitation: Jonathan Gomez Soto, Manuel DeArmas Cortes, Frank Elias Fuentes-Martinez, Camilo Lopez Rodriguez, Sandy Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Brayan Vera Sanchez.
• Facilitators: Sury Saray Lopez, Venus Artiles-Avila, Julmir Hernandez, Neyelth Hurtado Ramirez, Luis Rodriguez-Perez, Willy Oses-Martin, Wilmay Carrasco Rodriguez, Santiago Cepero Diaz, Adrian Caciano, Jan-Carlos Mondejar-Gonzalez, Yansel Mas Ali, Luis Rodolfo Roque Silva, and Yoanzy Alfonso Diaz.
• Clients: Miguel Seixeiro, Joaquim “Jack” Seixeiro, Mauricio Calle Landin, Alberto Decena, Glotrac Builders LLC, Filpo Trucking Corp, A&A Truck Center Corp., and Kalle Trucking, LLC.