DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — A man has been arrested in connection with a multi-state diesel fuel theft, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday.
Around 2 a.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop on a U-Haul van traveling on Highway 117 near East River Road in Mentone. The driver, 42-year-old Michel Alvarez of Los Angeles, California, was arrested.
Authorities found approximately 600 gallons of diesel fuel improperly stowed in the back of the van. Alvarez was charged with felony unlawful motor vehicle fuel transport, first-degree receiving stolen property, and possession of burglary tools. Deputies noted that Alvarez did not have a commercial driver’s license or required documentation to haul fuel in Alabama.
During the search, deputies also found a bag containing electrical switches, wires, remotes, and battery packs, which they deemed suspicious given the large fuel quantity. Investigators later learned Alvarez had been hijacking diesel pumps at truck stops along the East Coast, traveling from New Jersey, to obtain fuel illegally.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as the case develops.
