Four Cuban Nationals Plead Guilty to Gas Pump Skimming Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia
8 January 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NORFOLK, Va. – Four Cuban men from Florida have pleaded guilty to charges that included conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, Jorge Bello Fuentes, 30, Guillermo Bello Fuentes, 33, Yariel Monsibaez Ruiz, 28, and Pedro Emilio Duran, 40, among others, placed skimming devices on gas pumps located in the Eastern District of Virginia. The skimming devices were capable of recording the credit cards, bank card numbers, and PINs of the customers that used their cards at gas pumps. In April and May 2018, using the stolen card information, the codefendants traveled between various locations like Harris Teeter stores to withdraw money from the victims’ bank accounts and purchase prepaid debit cards.

Jorge Bello Fuentes pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and faces a mandatory minimum of two years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on April 23. Co-defendant Guillermo Bello Fuentes pleaded guilty on January 7 to the same charges and is scheduled for sentencing on April 28. Co-defendant Yariel Monsibaez Ruiz pleaded guilty on January 7 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on April 28. Co-defendant Pedro Emilio Duran pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on March 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and David L. Doughty, Jr., Northampton County Sheriff, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the pleas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and Kevin P. Hudson are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-109.

Contact:
Joshua Stueve
Director of Public Affairs
joshua.stueve@usdoj.gov