TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Five people are facing charges in Smith County after a multiagency operation broke up a criminal ring involved in card skimming and fuel theft across North Texas.
According to a release from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, in late April 2026 the center got a request for help from the Garland Police Department after multiple reports of stolen fuel and card numbers.
The investigation found skimming devices were installed on diesel pumps to steal payment card information and to use the stolen data to obtain fuel from truck stops throughout North Texas and even into Smith County.
According to the release, authorities estimated the group stole between 1,500 and 2,500 gallons of diesel per night, five to six nights per week, by pumping the fuel into hidden compartments built into the vehicles they were driving.
Skimming devices and altered payment cards recovered from search warrant locations in Irving and Arlington, TX.(Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center)
The release said on June 12 a multiagency team carried out simultaneous raids at two locations in Irving and one in Arlington. The searches turned up a large amount of skimming equipment, including 10 skimmers and 50 altered payment cards.
According to the release, investigators also found a laptop connected to a re-encoding device that was allegedly used to write stolen card numbers onto new cards. Authorities estimate the operation prevented about $10 million in additional fraud losses to Texans.
The operation led to the arrest of five suspects: Jael Diaz Morejon, Adriana Castillo Oliveros, Noel Pena Rodriguez, Carlos Virgilio Lopez Coba and Betsy Santiesteban Lopez.
The operation led to the arrest of five suspects: Jael Diaz Morejon, Adriana Castillo Oliveros, Noel Pena Rodriguez, Carlos Virgilio Lopez Coba and Betsy Santiesteban Lopez.(Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center)
Two other people found at the homes were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for administrative matters.
All five suspects are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and will be prosecuted by the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
Copyright 2026 KLTV. All rights reserved.