TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A multi-agency investigation through the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement has led to the dismantling of a credit card skimming ring out of Kissimmee.
The investigation also led to the arrests of three people on nearly two dozen charges, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported Thursday.
Investigators reported that the criminal ring used skimmers at gas stations to steal financial information from consumers. They then created counterfeit credit cards, bought fuel and stored that fuel in "bladder trucks" to be sold on the black market.
With assistance from Polk County Sheriff's Office, Osceola County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Secret Service task force, agricultural law enforcement officers arrested Vagda Menendez Hernandez, 45, Yoel Torres, 44, and Osvel Aquino Lopez.
All three face felony charges of using a scanning device to obtain payment information, creating counterfeit credit cards, dealing in credit cards and forgery.
In a release, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam said, "Keeping Florida safe is our top priority, and we will not tolerate criminals that aim to scam Floridians and visitors out of their hard-earned money."
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