A Skimmer Lands Three in Jail in Longview

LONGVIEW – Longview police have arrested three persons who are accused of using a skimmer on a gas pump in an effort to steal credit card information. Police arrested Beniurkis Hernandez-Rodriguez, 31, of Houston, Tamara Valle-Hernandez, 33, of Houston, and Junior Miguel Peralta-Montilla, 19, of Tampa Florida. All three were booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of unlawful use of a criminal instrument. They are also being held on an INS detainer.

A person noticed a wire was exposed at a gas pump at a convenience store on Judson Road. They notified the manager who reviewed video surveillance footage which showed two Hispanic men and one Hispanic woman arrived shortly before 3:15 Tuesday morning. While one man went into the store, the other man placed the skimmer on the gas pump. They then left the store in a white Ford Expedition with gold trim. The manager contacted police with a description of the suspects and their vehicle.

Officers stopped their SUV on Hawkins Parkway. The three are said to have admitted to officers what they had done. During a search of the vehicle officers noted the vehicle had no license plates. They also found a key that was used to open the gas pump housing.