Tampa man arrested for second time in diesel fuel theft scheme, deputies say

TAMPA, Florida — The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man for allegedly stealing diesel fuel.

On September 17, 2024, at approximately 11:15 p.m., deputies responded to an alert about a vehicle with a stolen Florida tag near Progress Boulevard and Falkenburg Road. Deputies made contact with the driver, 26-year-old Jesus Alvarez-Moreno, of Tampa, Florida, and detected a strong diesel odor.

A search of the vehicle revealed it had been modified to steal diesel from underground fuel tanks. Inside, deputies found a 300-gallon plastic cube container, two 55-gallon plastic drums, and car batteries. Two of the drums contained fuel.

Alvarez-Moreno is facing several charges, including unlawful conveyance of fuel, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, attaching an unassigned tag, and driving without a valid license. He was previously arrested on August 23, 2024, for stealing diesel and was out on bond.

"Law-abiding citizens trying to run businesses in our community are affected by these crimes," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "This suspect has been caught stealing not once but twice and would have stolen more if not for our deputy's swift response."

This is an ongoing investigation, and any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.