Tip from neighbor prompts probe into alleged fuel theft from City of El Paso fire vehicle

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — An El Paso city employee is accused of stealing fuel from a city vehicle and dumping the fuel into his personal vehicle.

The employee arrested was identified as 51-year-old Oscar Maldonado, who is an employee with the City of El Paso Fire Department.

Maldonado is a resident of Anthony, New Mexico.

Deputies from the El Paso County Constable’s Office, Precinct #4 (Constable Louie Aguilar’s office), received a tip from a concerned citizen regarding suspicious activities involving Maldonado.

The concerned citizen informed deputies that their neighbor, Maldonado, had been seen regularly removing five-gallon fuel containers from a fully marked El Paso Fire Department vehicle and then dispensing the fuel contained in the tanks into the employee’s personal vehicles.

The neighbor said the activity had become a routine by Maldonado, according to officials.

The investigation involved the Constable’s Office, Texas Rangers, and Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to officials, surveillance videos were obtained which depicted Maldonado placing five-gallon fuel containers into various take-home vehicles he would utilize that were fully marked, with City of El Paso inscriptions indicating they were vehicles belonging to the El Paso Fire Department.

The videos depicted Maldonado placing the fuel containers in a fire department vehicle, and upon returning to his home, he, his spouse or their daughter would then dispense the fuel into their personal vehicles, officials said.

Officials said it happened on multiple occasions.

Surveillance was established at various City of El Paso fuel pump locations. With the assistance of El Paso Fire Department administration and the City of El Paso Information Technology Department, video footage was obtained of Maldonado as he utilized his fuel pump employee access to dispense fuel purchased by the City of El Paso for use by employees for City of El Paso vehicles, according to officials.

Maldonado was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with charges of theft and abuse of official capacity.

The City of El Paso provided the following statement:

The El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) was notified that a civilian employee was the subject of a criminal investigation involving allegations related to theft of City property. The employee was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.On September 1, 2026, the EPFD was notified that the employee had been arrested in connection with the investigation. The EPFD is cooperating fully with the investigating agencies. As this remains an active criminal proceeding, the Department will not comment further.The EPFD remains committed to integrity, accountability, transparency, and professionalism and has taken appropriate action consistent with applicable laws and policies.

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