CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Antonio Arteaga, 38, of Corpus Christi, is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after admitting to a brazen scheme to steal from his own customers. The owner of American Auto Pros pleaded guilty to one count of credit card fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, a betrayal of trust that stretched across nearly a year.
The scheme unraveled following an investigation into a series of fraudulent ATM withdrawals plaguing Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. Authorities quickly focused on American Auto Pros, and a search warrant revealed a sophisticated operation designed to skim credit and debit card information. A credit card processing pad connected to a laptop allowed Arteaga to illegally capture account details and PIN numbers as customers paid for services.
But the theft didn’t stop at the point of sale. A subsequent search of Arteaga’s home turned up a magnetic strip encoder – a device used to rewrite data onto gift cards. Law enforcement discovered numerous altered gift cards, illegally re-encoded with stolen credit and debit card numbers, both at his home and inside his vehicle. Arteaga wasn’t just collecting the data; he was actively exploiting it.
Between December 10, 2016, and August 18, 2017, Arteaga unlawfully drained the accounts of dozens of American Auto Pros customers, withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars. The Secret Service investigation, aided by the Corpus Christi Police Department, pieced together the full extent of the damage, revealing a calculated and prolonged effort to defraud unsuspecting victims.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has scheduled sentencing for January 30, 2018. Arteaga faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the credit card fraud charge. Adding to that, the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence, meaning a minimum of 12 years behind bars. He also risks a maximum fine of $250,000. Arteaga was allowed to remain on bond pending the sentencing hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case. The Secret Service’s investigation serves as a stark reminder that even local businesses can be hubs for large-scale financial crime, and that those who exploit trust for personal gain will face federal prosecution. This case highlights the Secret Service’s continued commitment to combating fraud and protecting the financial integrity of the nation.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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