News and Investigations

The Polk County Sheriff's Office, working with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida  Department of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, Commissioner, and the Florida Attorney  General's Office of Statewide Prosecution, Pam Bondi, Attorney General,  have identified a criminal conspiracy using fuel pump skimmers, counterfeit  credit cards, and the theft of gasoline and diesel fuel.  Four are being  charged with Racketeering (F-1) and two are being charged with Conspiracy  to Commit Racketeering (F-1), for their part in a criminal enterprise which  PCSO started investigating in December 2017.

"Our detectives with the assistance of Commissioner Adam Putnam's investigators and Attorney General Pam Bondi's state wide prosecutors are sending a strong messageIf  you commit organized crime, we will charge you with racketeering, and you  will face a first degree felony that calls for a 30-year sentence. We are  seriousquit stealing people's stuff." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

Arrested were: 26-year-old Yosel Menendez Corrales, 34-year-old Victor Alvarez Cano,  49-year-old Diosdado Gonzalez Morejon, 41-year-old Marie Carmen Serrano  Abril, and 41-year-old Frank Perez. Detectives are still trying to locate  55-year old Carlos Gonzalez, who is known to be in the Haines City and  Miami areas.

The criminal conspiracy involved skimming devices  being installed at various gas pumps across Polk County. Information from  the skimmers was copied from real credit cards and then transferred to  fraudulent cards. The fake cards were then used to purchase large amounts  of gasoline and diesel fuel. The fuel was typically pumped into vehicles  that have altered fuel tanks, or large bladders, that could carry large  quantities of fuel. That fuel was then taken to several "dump sites" where  it was loaded into storage tanks, and then resold to a tight network of  associates at a discounted price.

"Sheriff Judd and the Polk County Sheriff's Office are proof that Florida law enforcement will pursue  with every available resource and prosecute to the fullest extent of the  law those who prey on hard-working Floridians and visitors. I'm proud that  our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement could assist in dismantling  this organized fuel theft ring, and we remain committed to fighting this  growing crime in our state." - Adam Putnam, Commissioner

The investigation began on December 11, 2017, when Corrales and Cano were seen  tinkering with a fuel pump's keypad at the Sunoco Fuel Station in Polk  City. From there, detectives conducted surveillance on the suspects and  their associates and collected evidence, including serving two search warrants.

Four of the suspects were believed to be residing at 3604 Cork  Road in Plant City. That residence is owned by Investment ORM Three Brothers  Corporation out of Miami.

Victor Cano and Yosel Corrales were both involved in the installation of the Bluetooth skimming devices. Cano  and Yosel Corrales told deputies that they resided at the Cork Road address  where Diosdado Morejon and Frank Perez also reside.

Yosel Corrales, Diosdado Morejon and Frank Perez used counterfeit credit cards to purchase  fuel (diesel and gasoline) which was placed into one of two vehicles that  contain "bladder" tanks to hold large fuel amounts.

Yosel Corrales and Diosdado Morejon were also observed traveling to locations in Hillsborough  County and Polk County to deliver the fuel.

Morejon also had contact with Carlos Gonzalez and Marie Carmen Serrano Abril to use the  counterfeit cards to purchase fuel to fill both vehicles and gas tanks.

"Sheriff Judd's investigative skills protected citizens from  having their personal information stolen simply by using gas pumps. Those  who steal by using skimmer scams will not be tolerated and my Office of  Statewide Prosecution will aggressively prosecute this case." - Attorney General Pam Bondi

Yosel Mendez-Corrales, Diosdado Gonzalez Morejon,  and Frank Perez are all charged with racketeering. They have no prior criminal  history.

Victor Alvarez Cano is also charged with racketeering. His prior criminal history includes two felony charges of forgery and  fraud. In 2015, he was arrested in Alachua County after being found in  possession of modified gift cards, eight skimming devices, and several  gas pump keys.

Carlos Gonzalez is charged with conspiracy to  commit racketeering. His prior criminal history includes eight felonies  and three misdemeanors consisting of possession of a firearm/ammo by a  convicted felon, trafficking in drugs, cocaine possession, drug paraphernalia  possession, producing marijuana, possessing marijuana, cruelty to animals,  attend fight of animals, probation violation, contempt, livestock run at  large, and failure to obtain a permit.

Marie Carmen Serrano Abril is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering. Her prior criminal  history includes two felony and two misdemeanor charges consisting of trafficking  in cocaine, possession of controlled substance and paraphernalia, and battery.

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, deputies served search warrants  on two locations: 3604 Cork Road, Plant City, and 5414 Greenfield Acres,  Lakeland. Some of the items taken as evidence include a laptop computer,  fuel gauges and nozzles, and several gift cards.