An investigation into Lancaster city card skimmers that victimized multiple county residents resulted in four people being charged Thursday.
Police said at least 13 people, nine of whom remain unidentified by investigators, were involved in scamming thousands of dollars from county residents as part of a card skimming ring based in New Jersey.
Police have charged Rudislandy Garcia-Toledo, 24, Yosvel Gonzalez, 51, Reinier Garcia-Martinez, 41, all of New Jersey; and Roydel Garcia-Perez, 51, of Florida, with multiple felony counts including corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, organized retail theft and access device fraud.
Police say the group is part of an organized ring based in New Jersey that places skimming devices inside the point of sale at gas pumps across the northeastern United States.
Card skimmers are typically attachments put on an EBT scanner at businesses such as gas stations that steal credit card information when a customer tries to make a purchase. Police located multiple devices used by the group at a gas station on Hempstead Road in Lancaster.
According to an affidavit, the devices used by the group were capable of transmitting stolen information remotely, so individuals involved in the scam did not have to directly access the device once it was placed at the point of sale.
Using blank cards loaded with information stolen by the devices, the group would purchase large quantities of diesel fuel before illegally reselling the fuel for cash to avoid tax filings.
Pennsylvania State Police and several police departments in Lancaster County reported multiple incidents in which large trucks registered in New Jersey and outfitted with aftermarket holding tanks made large purchases of diesel fuel using fraudulent credit card information. Similar incidents were reported in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, which assisted Lancaster city police in their investigation, identified over 50 individuals involved in the operation, including individuals involved in obtaining and placing the card skimmers, placing aftermarket fuel tanks on trucks, as well as making fraudulent purchases and sales.
Using surveillance footage of the alleged fraudulent fuel purchases, police identified Garcia-Toledo, Gonzalez, Garcia-Martinez and Garcia-Perez as being involved in the operation. In their criminal complaint, police listed over $8,500 in fraudulent transactions carried out by the four in central Pennsylvania. They were not listed in police custody Saturday.
Investigators have yet to identify nine additional co-conspirators.
