Ramon Perez-Torres, 31, of Mesquite, was convicted of a first-degree charge of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and sentenced to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Perez-Torres was a member of a sophisticated organized criminal group accused of stealing diesel fuel using fraudulent credit card information and tampering with pulser devices on motor fuel dispensers. A pulser is a component of the motor fuel metering system that measures fuel flow and calculates the amount of fuel dispensed per penny. The tampering device slowed down the pulser, allowing the suspects to pump hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel for a fraction of the cost. The criminal investigation revealed that the group stole over 10,000 gallons of fuel from gas stations in nine counties across Texas.
Authorities suspect that a large number of individuals were involved in the group. Eight members, including Perez-Torres, were indicted. Duniesky Gonzalez, identified as the group's ringleader, was convicted in June 2024 of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and sentenced to 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Camilla Concepcion was also convicted of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and sentenced to 10 years in TDCJ.
Two other members of the group are currently held in the Smith County Jail awaiting trial, while three additional members have been indicted and are believed to have fled Texas.
The investigation, which led to these convictions, was coordinated by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in collaboration with 12 law enforcement agencies across the state and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The Smith County District Attorney’s Office also played an active role in building the case.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation included:
- Garland Police Department
- Crandall Police Department
- Kemp Police Department
- Canton Police Department
- Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office
- Mabank Police Department
- Lindale Police Department
- Palestine Police Department
- Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
- Northlake Police Department
- Smith County Sheriff’s Office
- Plano Police Department
