The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services today announced the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) has arrested a suspect involved in organized fuel theft activities, connecting him to a series of eight fuel theft cases across central Florida. Harold Blanco was taken into custody after a joint operation by the OALE and Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
“I am proud of the exceptional teamwork displayed by the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in apprehending this suspect, who is linked to a spree of retail fuel thefts across central Florida,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “We will continue to work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners and fuel retailers to combat these organized criminal activities that hurt Florida’s consumers and businesses.”
The OALE’s investigation began when a RaceTrac fuel station located in Kissimmee, Florida, reported significant losses due to fuel theft. Following extensive surveillance and analysis, Harold Blanco was identified as a probable suspect involved in these illicit activities. OALE investigators were then alerted to Blanco’s presence at the same RaceTrac fuel station. Through electronic surveillance, Blanco was observed tampering with the fuel pulser dispenser to steal fuel. Upon attempting to initiate contact, Blanco fled in his vehicle. After a brief chase, Harold Blanco was apprehended.
As a result of this arrest, Blanco faces more than 30 criminal charges, including multiple felony charges, from both the OALE and OCSO. The charges include obtaining fuel fraudulently (F.S. 316.80(2), Felony 2), unauthorized access to an electronic device (F.S. 815.06(3)(b)(2), Felony 2), unlawful conveyance of fuel (F.S. 316.80(1), Felony 3), criminal mischief (interruption or impairment to a business) (F.S. 806.13(1)(b)(3), Felony 3), and organized scheme to defraud (F.S. 817.034 (4)(a)(3), Felony 3).
To help combat rampant retail fuel theft across Florida, Commissioner Simpson also worked with the Florida Legislature this year to create criminal penalties for the possession, installation, use, or aiding in the use of contaminant devices–such as fuel dispenser pulsars–inserted into retail fuel dispensers from its standard operation or impeding standard functionality. In addition, Florida law was changed to create criminal penalties for possessing or using an auxiliary fuel tank to commit retail fuel theft. These new changes went into effect July 1, 2023.
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement conducts criminal investigations relating to any matter over which the department has jurisdiction, protects consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices, protects Florida’s agriculture industry from theft and other crimes, and safeguards the integrity of Florida’s food and other consumer products. In support of its mission, the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement operates more than 20 agricultural interdiction stations around the state. Officers conduct vehicle inspections 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to protect Florida’s food supply and prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests and diseases.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
