The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) has arrested a suspect involved in organized fuel theft activities, connecting him to fuel thefts valued at over $20,000 across central Florida. Gonzalo V. Almanza was taken into custody and booked into the Osceola County jail on more than a dozen felony charges.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) has arrested a suspect involved in organized fuel theft activities, connecting him to fuel thefts valued at over $20,000 across central Florida. Gonzalo V. Almanza was taken into custody and booked into the Osceola County jail on more than a dozen felony charges.

"I am proud of the hard work of our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement to bring to justice criminals who are brazenly defrauding and stealing from Florida’s businesses – something we will not tolerate or turn a blind eye to in Florida,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “This arrest marks another significant milestone in our ongoing effort to combat fuel theft and protect Florida's consumers and businesses. We will continue to work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners and fuel retailers to combat these organized criminal activities."

OALE’s investigation began when a RaceTrac fuel station located in Kissimmee, Florida, reported significant losses due to fuel theft. Following extensive surveillance and analysis, Harold Blanco was identified as a probable suspect involved in these illicit activities and the department announced the arrest of Blanco in May. Blanco faces more than 30 criminal charges, including multiple felony charges. Following the arrest of Blanco, investigators were able to identify Almanza as a co-conspirator who worked with Blanco to commit several felony fuel thefts.

As a result of this arrest, Almanza faces more than a dozen felony charges, including one count of engaging in racketeering activity, one count of organized schedule to defraud, five counts of obtaining fuel fraudulently, and five counts of unauthorized access to an electronic device.

To help combat rampant retail fuel theft across Florida, Commissioner Simpson also worked with the Florida Legislature this year to create criminal penalties for the possession, installation, use, or aiding in the use of contaminant devices–such as fuel dispenser pulsars– which are inserted into retail fuel dispensers to impede standard functionality. In addition, Florida law was changed to create criminal penalties for possessing or using an auxiliary fuel tank to commit retail fuel theft. These new changes went into effect July 1, 2023.

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement conducts criminal investigations relating to any matter over which the department has jurisdiction, protects consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices, protects Florida’s agriculture industry from theft and other crimes, and safeguards the integrity of Florida’s food and other consumer products. In support of its mission, the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement operates more than 20 agricultural interdiction stations around the state. Officers conduct vehicle inspections 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to protect Florida’s food supply and prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests and diseases.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

###