Two men are facing multiple charges after authorities said they stole hundreds of gallons of fuel during a series of thefts at Miami-Dade gas stations.
Evis Luis La Rosa, 34, and Reidys Martinez-Torriente, 23, were arrested Tuesday on charges that include grand theft, organized fraud, obtaining fuel fraudulently, and retail fuel theft involving tampering with a fuel dispenser, according to arrest reports.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said it had been investigating an ongoing fuel theft scheme that involved vehicles equipped with concealed bladders and the manipulation of fuel pumps to dispense diesel without payment.
According to investigators, the suspects used illegally modified vehicles with hidden high-capacity fuel tanks to secretly steal large quantities of fuel, often several hundred gallons at a time. The fuel was obtained through fraudulent credit card transactions or by tampering with pumps, then transferred into large-capacity containers and fuel tankers.
Authorities said La Rosa and Martinez-Torriente were able to steal approximately 962 gallons of diesel valued at more than $3,100 through the scheme.
On Jan. 4, investigators said Martinez-Torriente arrived at a 7-Eleven located at 13695 Southwest 288th Street in a blue Sprinter van with another man and filled a bladder inside the van with 201 gallons of diesel worth $683.40 without paying.
A short time later, La Rosa arrived at the same location in a Dodge Ram 2500 and filled multiple bladders in the truck bed with 150 gallons of diesel valued at $510.40 without paying, according to the reports.
On Jan. 5, the Sprinter van returned, this time to a 7-Eleven at 25 South Homestead Boulevard. Investigators said Martinez-Torriente exited the van and filled a bladder with 179 gallons of diesel worth $590.70 without paying.
Shortly afterward, La Rosa arrived in the Dodge Ram and filled bladders with 202 gallons of diesel valued at $666.60 without paying, authorities said.
On Jan. 6, both suspects returned to the Homestead Boulevard 7-Eleven in the Dodge Ram. Police said La Rosa began filling the bladders while Martinez-Torriente acted as a lookout. The pair allegedly stole about 200 gallons of diesel worth $660 before employees discovered the theft and called police. Officers responded and took both men into custody.
At the gas station, detectives reportedly found a strong magnet inside a fuel pump, a method commonly used by fuel theft suspects to manipulate pumps and allow fuel to flow without payment.
Investigators also said both men were carrying cash totaling about $1,500 at the time of their arrest.
La Rosa and Martinez-Torriente were booked into jail following their arrests.
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