ALBANY, NY – Hugo Hernandez, 34, of Miami Lakes, Florida, has confessed to his central role in a sprawling, multi-state gas station skimming operation that bled unsuspecting customers dry. Hernandez pled guilty today to charges of access device fraud and money laundering, admitting to building and installing devices designed to steal credit and debit card information from gas pumps across the country, including locations in Albany, Broome, and Montgomery Counties, New York.
The scheme, which ran from December 2015 to July 2019, involved meticulously crafted skimming devices hidden inside the “pay at the pump” systems. Hernandez and his co-conspirators weren’t just after card numbers; they were after identities. The stolen data was used to create fraudulent credit and debit cards, which were then deployed to purchase money orders, gift cards, and cold, hard cash. It was a systematic effort to convert stolen information into readily spendable funds.
Federal investigators detailed how Hernandez directly benefited from the criminal enterprise. He admitted to funneling at least $173,257 through a bank account he controlled, using 162 fraudulently obtained money orders. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has secured a forfeiture money judgment for the full $173,257, meaning Hernandez will be required to relinquish those funds if he has any remaining.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI Albany Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, and the U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office, stretched across multiple states. Assistance also came from FBI field offices in Miami, Pittsburgh, and San Juan, as well as the USPIS Miami Division, and the New York State Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures. The sheer scale of the operation underscores the sophistication of the criminal network involved.
Hernandez now faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 1, 2022, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. He could receive up to 20 years behind bars, a fine of up to $500,000 (or twice the value of the illicit transactions, whichever is greater), and up to 3 years of supervised release. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Sharpe, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Emily C. Powers are prosecuting the case, promising a continued crackdown on these increasingly common skimming schemes. Authorities warn consumers to remain vigilant when using pay-at-the-pump systems, inspecting the card reader for any signs of tampering before inserting their cards. This case serves as a stark reminder that convenience can come at a cost, and that criminals are constantly seeking new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in everyday transactions.
Related Federal Cases
- Pam Bondi, Money Laundering Challenge, Austin TX, 2023 · Texas
- James Long Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, … · Texas
- Marlen Manukyan, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, NY 2024 · Pennsylvania
- Roydel Nicholson, Mail Fraud and Money Laundering, NY 2023 · North Carolina
- Kenneth Chatman, Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering, FL 2024 · New York
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News