Murrieta Man Accused Of Stealing $113K In Fuel, Identity Theft: Sheriff

VENTURA COUNTY, CA — A 61-year-old Murrieta man was arrested after investigators linked him to more than $113,000 in fraudulent fuel purchases using stolen credit card information at gas stations throughout Ventura County, authorities said.

Tigran Gabrielian was arrested Nov. 4 at a gas station in the 2000 block of Borchard Road in Newbury Park following an investigation that began in October, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded Oct. 17 to a business in the 3000 block of Vineyard Avenue in the unincorporated area of Oxnard after the company reported a data breach that resulted in fraudulent charges to its credit card accounts. The company's reported losses totaled about $113,000. Detectives reviewing the transactions determined that multiple fraudulent fuel purchases had been made at gas stations throughout Ventura County, authorities said.

Investigators learned that suspects were purchasing as much as $2,500 in fuel during a single visit, using multiple stolen credit cards to complete transactions.

Detectives also suspected the vehicles involved had been modified to carry unusually large quantities of fuel. Surveillance footage from local gas stations helped investigators identify license plates associated with the vehicles, authorities said.

The agency's Flock automated license plate reader system helped detectives track the vehicles and connect them to additional fuel thefts throughout the county, authorities said.

On Nov. 4, detectives received information that stolen credit card information was again being used at gas stations in the Newbury Park area. Detectives from the Sheriff's Office headquarters and West County Special Enforcement Unit responded.

By the time investigators arrived at one location, a suspect had already stolen approximately $900 in fuel and left. Using the license plate reader system, detectives located the suspect vehicle at another gas station, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Gabrielian was detained at the second location. Investigators determined he had used stolen credit card information to fraudulently purchase approximately $800 in fuel, authorities said.

During a search, detectives found multiple blank credit cards with Post-it notes attached containing expiration dates and personal identification numbers. A large amount of cash was also seized as evidence, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators examined the truck Gabrielian was driving, which appeared to be an ordinary work utility vehicle. Inside, they discovered additional fuel tanks and large fuel bladders concealed within the truck, along with a pump system equipped with a handle and meter to transfer and measure fuel, authorities said.

The truck was seized as evidence.

Gabrielian was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on nine counts of identity theft and grand theft, authorities said.

The investigation remains ongoing. Detectives believe additional suspects may have been involved and are asking anyone with information related to the investigation to contact the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.