TYLER, Texas – Ramon Perez Torres, 31, of Mesquite, was convicted of first-degree engaging in organized criminal activity and sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Perez Torres was part of a “sophisticated organized crime group” accused of using fraudulent credit card information to steal diesel fuel and using a “Pulsar tampering device” on vehicle fuel dispensers.
The Pulsar is part of an automotive fuel metering system that measures fuel flow and determines the amount of fuel flow per cent. The devices that criminals tamper with slow the pulse, allowing suspects to pump hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel for just cents on the dollar. A criminal investigation determined that the group stole more than 10,000 gallons of fuel from gas stations in nine Texas counties.
Authorities suspect that multiple individuals were involved in the group, and eight people, including Pérez Torres, were indicted. The ringleader of the group, Dunieski Gonzalez, was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity in June 2024 and sentenced to 50 years in the TDCJ, while Camila Concepcion was also convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity and sentenced to 10 years in the TDCJ.
Two other members of the group are being held in the Smith County Jail awaiting trial, and three more members of the group have been indicted and are believed to have fled Texas.
The Texas Financial Crimes Information Center worked with 12 law enforcement agencies across the state and the Texas Public Accountant on the case that led to the conviction. The Smith County District Attorney’s Office also played an active role in the case, assisting and advising in building the case.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation are:
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
