Spring Hill, FL – On July 23, 2025, Hernando County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Rafael Cruz-Arencibia, 36, in connection with an ongoing fraud operation involving counterfeit credit cards and large-scale fuel theft. The case, identified as 2025-00253597, stems from an investigation initiated earlier this month.
Cruz-Arencibia faces charges including Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information, Trafficking in or Possession of Counterfeit Credit Cards, and Unlawful Conveyance of Fuel. Authorities allege he used re-encoded gift cards embedded with stolen banking information to purchase diesel fuel at local fueling stations.
Following his initial arrest on July 11, 2025, for multiple fraud charges, detectives executed a search warrant on Cruz-Arencibia’s 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The search revealed counterfeit credit cards and a concealed, permanently installed fuel tank in the vehicle’s trunk, capable of holding approximately 70 gallons of fuel—significantly larger than the standard 14.5-gallon factory tank for the model.
A selector switch allowed Cruz-Arencibia to transfer fuel from the factory tank to the hidden tank without removing the nozzle, facilitating the discreet collection of large fuel quantities.
Cruz-Arencibia was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into the fraud operation, emphasizing its commitment to addressing activities that affect local businesses and the community.
