All suspects identified in organized criminal ring that targets gas pumps with skimmers throughout the State of Texas

MIDLAND, Texas — Law enforcement has arrested multiple people, including two men in Midland, who are allegedly a part of gas pump skimming schemes that span throughout the State of Texas.

The multiple incidents reported in an arrest affidavit, which include cities such as Midland, Odessa, New Braunfels, Houston, Kermit, and Pflugerville, date back to May 2023.

Yosbel Alonso Ayala, 30, and Ernesto Salazar Verdecia were the only known suspects at this time who were arrested in Midland County. The affidavit reveals the other suspects as Juan Alberto Banos Herrera, Reinel Guerra Guerra and Javier Martin Gonzalez.

The suspect for whom we have information tied to the case is Alonso-Ayala.

Ayala is tied to gas pump card skimming schemes in New Braunfels and a package flagged in Houston that allegedly carried suspected narcotics and contraband related to gas pump skimming, according to the affidavit.

On Aug. 8, 2024, skimming-related tools and devices were reportedly found in Ayala’s apartment.

In Pflugerville, Texas, officials linked Ayala to a fuel theft that occurred using re-encoded cards on June 6, 2024. Records show Ayala was in the area of the gas station at the time of the alleged crime.

On March 18, 2024, around 10:57 a.m., security cameras inside the fuel pumps of Love’s Truck Stop located in the 5000 block of Cholla Road reportedly showed a suspect’s hand and arm being placed through a fuel pump receipt door. In the video, a suspect is allegedly seen tampering with the back of a payment card reader.

According to the affidavit, Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center agents know this is where suspects are known to place inline skimmers used to steal card information. 

The affidavit says the suspect was also seen unplugging an item from the card reader and removing it from the gas pump. immediately after the device was allegedly plugged back into the card reader. 

According to the affidavit, Ayala’s role in this incident was searching the same Love’s Truck Stop on Google before the credit card skimming operation began on Jan. 3. The affidavit alleges the skimming took place from January to March 2024. 

According to the affidavit, on March 19, 2024, an Odessa Police Department Detective responded to a Love’s Truck Stop in reference to another attempted skimmer placement. Cameras allegedly showed two men in a white Ford F-150 that had a modified fuel tank capable of holding more than 200 gallons of gasoline.

The affidavit states the driver was shown attempting to break into the fuel pump by prying it open. After being unsuccessful, the affidavit reports that the duo then left in the truck.

Ayala’s role in this case was the same as in the Midland incident, sending a Google link to a Stripes Fuel Station located in the 7000 block of West University Boulevard. 

He also allegedly had pictures of Valero Fuel stations in both Midland and Odessa. 

Ayala also reportedly spent a significant amount of time in both Midland and Odessa from December 2023 and January 2024.

The affidavit also documented call records between Ayala and his girlfriend to get bailed out of charges in Odessa.

The affidavit says on March 4, 2024, a Loss Prevention Manager reported a 1996 white GMC box truck, involved in a Midland Police Department case, had been located at the Kermit location. The manager noted that just like the Midland case, the suspect once again did not buy any fuel, which was the same thing that happened at the Midland truck stop. 

During this same time, it was reported that the suspects in the GMC box truck were seen placing a skimmer on Fuel Pump number 17 at the gas station.

The driver in this incident at this time is unknown to NewsWest 9, but deputies with the Winkler County Sheriff’s Office say when they arrived on the scene, the driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, provided a fictitious United States Permanent Residence Card. During this exchange, the person was talking on the phone to an unknown individual. 

A special agent listed in the affidavit believes Alonso-Ayala committed the crime of engaging in organized criminal activity by unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications.

NewsWest 9 knows Salazar Verdecia is connected to the case.

Herrera, Guerra and Gonzalez are members of the organized criminal ring acting with intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination, committed or conspired to commit organized criminal activity, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, a search of Ayala’s banking account showed transactions totaling $416,383.47 from various suspects.

Ayala and Salazar no longer appear on the Midland County currently held detainee’s website, meaning they have bonded out of jail.