LAS VEGAS, NV – Another cog in a sophisticated gas pump skimming operation has been hauled off to federal prison, bringing the total sentenced to four. Adrian Leyva Tamayo, of Las Vegas, received 81 months behind bars today after pleading guilty to conspiracy, unauthorized access device use, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme, which bled unsuspecting customers of over $5 million across Nevada and Southern California, involved the systematic installation of skimming devices inside gas station pumps.
Court documents detail a conspiracy stretching from at least April 2017 through August 2020. Leyva Tamayo, working with Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez, Juan Sosa Tamayo, and Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez, targeted gas stations, physically breaking into the pumps to install the skimmers. These devices silently captured credit and debit card information as customers paid for fuel. The stolen data wasn’t just passively collected; the crew actively recoded the information onto counterfeit cards, allowing them to make fraudulent purchases and cash withdrawals.
The scale of the fraud is staggering. Investigators confirmed the group compromised at least 8,229 credit and debit card numbers, resulting in an estimated loss of $5,032,616. This wasn’t a smash-and-grab; it was a meticulously planned, long-running operation designed to siphon money from everyday people filling their gas tanks. The crew operated across multiple locations in California, indicating a level of organization and mobility.
This sentencing follows those of Leyva Tamayo’s co-conspirators. Juan Sosa Tamayo previously received 56 months, Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez got 61 months, and Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez was sentenced to 70 months. The escalating sentences reflect the severity of the crime and the significant financial harm inflicted on the victims. Each defendant faces an additional three years of supervised release after serving their prison terms.
The case was a joint effort led by United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom for the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Schmale and Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case. While the sentences offer some measure of justice, the impact of identity theft can linger for years. Victims are urged to report any suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-438-4338 or online at www.identitytheft.gov.
For those looking to protect themselves, the FTC offers identity theft prevention tips and free resources at www.ftc.gov/idtheft. This case serves as a stark reminder to remain vigilant when using credit and debit cards at gas stations and to regularly monitor accounts for any unauthorized activity. The Secret Service continues to prioritize investigations into these types of financial crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Juan Luis Sosa Tamayo, Gas Pump Skimming, NV 2024 · California
- Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez, Gas Pump Skimming, NV 2019 · California
- Las Vegas Man Busted for 10 Pounds of Meth, $32,000 Deal Goes Sour · California
- Las Vegas Resident Charged With Murder In Aid Of Racketeering · North Carolina
- Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez, Skimming Device Installation, Neva… · Nevada
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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