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TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A Smith County judge sentenced a Dallas man accused in a 2022 string of diesel thefts to prison on Tuesday.

Dallas man gets 50 years for East Texas diesel theft operation

Duniesky Gonzalez, 37, was arrested on Jan 27, 2023, on a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity after a state investigation tied him to a widespread string of fuel thefts in 2022. Gonzalez is accused of participating in a scheme to alter fuel pumps to greatly reduce the price of fuel being pumped, resulting in the theft of thousands of dollars worth of fuel being stolen across the area.

Gonzalez went to trial on April in Judge Taylor B. Heaton’s court after entering a guilty plea without admitting guilt, saying “I’m not guilty, but I just want to get it over with.” He later entered an open plea of guilt, and on Tuesday was sentenced to 50 years confinement by Heaton.

Tuesday’s sentencing hearing began with state testimony from investigator Mick Kimbrow, a corporal for the northeast region of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Kimbrow explained the “pulsar” devices used to alter the fuel pumps in the operation, saying “This is how they make their living.”

Kimbrow noted that immigrants are often deported after committing crimes like this, saying they often resort to the same actions if they remain in the country. The investigator said he believes Gonzalez was the “ringleader” of the crime ring, which included at least two other suspects.

State prosecutor Richard Vance then took the stand to discuss Gonzalez’s sentence, saying a “life sentence is not unreasonable,” but there should be a “floor of 50 years.”

The defense said that if anyone was hurt by the crimes then a longer sentence would be warranted, but this was not the case. Vance responded that financial loss can hurt people.

Having been found guilty of engaging in organized criminal activity, Gonzalez was sentenced to 50 years in prison with the right to appeal.

Gonzalez’s codefendants, Ramon Perrez-Torres, 31, of Mesquite, and Camila Cruz Concepcion, 26, of Dallas, were arrested for the same charge and are being held in the Smith County Jail. Both are set for jury trial on July 23.

+ Man accused in East Texas diesel theft operation pleads guilty

+ State investigation uncovers East Texas diesel pump tampering ring