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Seven Indicted in Gas Station Skimming Scheme, New York 2018
ALBANY, NEW YORK – A brazen scheme to steal credit and debit card numbers from unsuspecting gas station customers in Albany, Broome, and Montgomery Counties has landed seven people in hot water. The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, James N. Hendricks of the FBI, and Joseph Cronin of the USPIS, reveals a complex web of deceit and greed.
Three of the defendants, Joan Jesus Manso Dieguez, Atnetys Ferreira, and Hugo Hernandez, were arrested to date and face serious charges. Dieguez, 33, of Miami, Florida, is accused of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and money laundering. Ferreira, 40, of Miami, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, while Hernandez, 32, of Miami Lakes, Florida, faces conspiracy to commit access device fraud and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that from April 2016 to approximately December 2018, the defendants conspired to install gas station skimming devices inside pumps in the three counties, stealing credit and debit card data from customers who used the “pay at the pump” function. The stolen data was then used to create fraudulent debit and credit cards, which were used to obtain money orders, gift cards, cash, and other merchandise.
The indictment also alleges that five of the defendants conspired to engage in financial transactions with money orders and gift cards obtained through the scheme, designed to conceal the source of the stolen funds. The defendants allegedly used gift card exchange websites to transfer the value of the gift cards to bank accounts controlled by the members of the conspiracy.
If convicted, Dieguez, Ferreira, and Hernandez each face up to 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering conspiracy. The sentence will be determined by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and USPIS, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Emily C. Powers. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. As the investigation continues, more details will emerge, and the full extent of the scheme will be revealed.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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