Credit Card Skimming Ring Sentenced To Prison For Ohio Crimes

CLEVELAND — Ten people have been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a multi-state credit card skimming ring. The group installed the skimmers at gas stations in Ohio, Maryland, Colorado, and Utah.

“This group stole credit card information from thousands of people all over Northeast Ohio just looking to fill up their gas tanks and continue on their way,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Instead, these victims had their personal information taken and used to make fraudulent credit cards, which this group in turn used to steal merchandise.”

Over a nearly three-year period, the group installed their skimmers at multiple gas stations in Northeast Ohio and around the nation. The skimming ring then took the stolen credit card information and bought gift cards, merchandise and other services in Ohio, court documents said.

The court documents specifically say skimmers were found at gas stations in Rocky River, Solon, Stow, Hudson, Fairview Park, Medina, Cleveland, Canton, Cuyahoga Falls, Norton, and Austintown.

To install the skimmers, members of the gang would distract gas station employees or block their view of specific pumps, while another person installed the skimmer.

“This sophisticated, multi-state criminal enterprise stole credit card numbers from innocent folks putting gas in their cars,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “These individuals, now in prison, caused financial difficulties for numerous everyday citizens, and for this, they are being held accountable.”

Two of the accused skimmers remain at-large, the Department of Justice said. Here are the 10 people that were sentenced:

• Ranset Rodriguez, 41, of Miami sentenced to 81 months in federal prison.
• Jose Manuel Iglesias, 52, of West New York, New Jersey sentenced to 81 months in federal prison.
• Yaniris Alfonso, 32, of Miami sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.
• Edelberto Hernandez, 46, of Kiowa, Colorado sentenced to 33 months in federal prison
• Yadian Quesada-Hernandez, 32, of Tampa sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
• Alejandro Moises, 53, of Miami sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
• Luis Enrique Jimenez Gonzales, 28, of Hialeah, Florida sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
• Eddy Pimentel-Vila, 46, of Jersey City, New Jersey sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
• Yonasky Rosa, 35, of Tampa sentenced to 22 months in federal prison.
• Lester Enrique Castaneda, 39, of Hialeah, Florida sentenced to six months in federal prison and six months of home detention.

The two suspects still at-large are: Juan Carlos Banos, 59, of Parma, and Carlos Rodriguez Martinez, 43, of Aurora, Colorado.

The FBI, Secret Service, and Boulder County (Colorado) Sheriff's Office led the investigation into the skimming ring.

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