Deputies Quickly Catch Suspected Fuel Thieves

Excellent, old‑fashioned detective work by a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputy led to the arrest of two suspects, the discovery of a fuel‑theft ring, and the recovery of approximately 2,100 gallons of stolen diesel fuel following coordinated burglaries at multiple Seligman gas stations early Friday morning.

The investigation began when a Seligman gas station reported a significant theft of diesel fuel from its pumps. Shortly afterward, it was discovered that a neighboring station had been targeted the same night. Combined, the stations reported a loss of more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. During the initial investigation, a YCSO deputy located a parked U‑Haul truck matching the description of one of the suspect vehicles. Taking a closer look, the deputy noticed diesel fuel leaking from the cargo area onto the street. The deputy then located shoe prints leading from the fuel spill directly to a nearby hotel room.

The deputy, with assistance from the YCSO Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), arrested the suspects, who were still inside the hotel room. A search revealed a credit card skimmer device, receipts for the specific tools used to commit the burglaries, and multiple credit cards bearing the names of uninvolved individuals, indicating potential identity theft and fraud, as well as the keys to the suspects’ U‑Haul.

A search of the U‑Haul revealed a makeshift transport system consisting of seven containers holding approximately 2,100 gallons of stolen diesel fuel. The suspects, 37‑year‑old Dachel Roberto Michel Campos of Las Vegas and 23‑year‑old Jesus Daniel Rodriguez Yordy, also of Las Vegas, were arrested on burglary and theft charges.

YCSO then coordinated with the victim companies to safely recover the stolen fuel.

Detectives have learned that a third, unidentified suspect was involved. A second vehicle, a newer‑model black Ford F‑650 flatbed truck, left the area before YCSO arrived. Anyone with information regarding the unidentified third suspect, the black Ford F‑650 flatbed, or this incident is urged to contact YCSO at 928‑771‑3260 or submit an anonymous tip through Yavapai Silent Witness at 1‑800‑932‑3232.

This incident is not believed to be connected to any train or truck burglaries along I‑40