Florida officials say man used magnet in 10 diesel fuel thefts involving a tractor trailer
A man was recently arrested in connection with a series of diesel fuel thefts that took place across southwestern Florida.
According to the Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE), Juan Reyes-Tellez was arrested and booked into the Lee County Jail on charges of:
- Larceny for breaching access to a retail fuel dispenser without authorization
- Larceny for possession of a device used to alter or manipulate a retail fuel dispenser
- Operating a motor vehicle with a license that is suspended or revoked
Officials say that on June 8, 2026, OALE agents caught Reyes-Tellez stealing 261 gallons of diesel worth $1,305 from a retailer in Lehigh Acres.
“During a search of the tractor trailer, agents found a large magnet and discovered the fuel dispenser’s access panel had been tampered with. The magnet was determined to be a device commonly used to manipulate or gain unauthorized access to fuel dispensers,” Florida OALE said.
Agents linked to Reyes-Tellez to 10 convenience store diesel fuel theft incidents involving a tractor trailer.