Four West Texas Men Indicted on Federal Charges Relating to a Motor Fuel Theft Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
14 July 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In Midland, four men are charged for scheming to steal an estimated $365,000 worth of diesel fuel announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week charges 32–year-old Isai Navarette of Odessa; 35-year-old Omar Gardea Lujan of Odessa; 30-year-old Jesus Lozoya of Gardendale, TX; and, 43-year-old Jorge Urias Carrasco of Odessa with eight counts of Access Device Fraud.

The indictment alleges that from January 2014 to September 2014, the defendants knowingly used unauthorized access devices--eight stolen fuel cards--to unlawfully acquire bulk loads of diesel fuel.

Upon conviction of each charge, the defendants face up to ten years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

Federal authorities arrested Carrasco earlier today; and, Navarrete, Lujan and Lozoya yesterday. Navarrete, Lujan and Carrasco have been released on $10,000 bonds while Lozoya remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for 10:00am on July 25, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Counts in Midland.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Permian Basin Oilfield Theft Task Force and the Texas Comptroller’s Office - Criminal Investigation Division.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.