Two Cuban Nationals Arrested in Tampa with Credit Card Cloning Devices: One Had Deportation Order

In Tampa, two Cuban nationals were taken into custody after being found with fraudulent credit cards and card cloning devices. Notably, one of them was under an active deportation order. The arrest transpired on Wednesday during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 in Sumter County.

A press release from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) stated that officers stopped a 2019 Range Rover for multiple traffic violations. Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered "four credit card cloning devices used to steal and store bank card information, along with 20 fraudulent credit cards hidden inside."

The individuals in the vehicle were identified as Carlos E. Del Pino, 34, the driver, and Yandi Valdés Rodríguez, 35, the passenger. The officers contacted Border Patrol, which confirmed that Del Pino had previously been charged by the U.S. Secret Service for possessing a credit card cloning device and had an active deportation order since 2019.

Both individuals were arrested and transported to Sumter County Jail without resistance. At that point, Border Patrol issued an immigration detainer for Del Pino.

The charges against them are extensive:

Charges Against Carlos E. Del Pino

Del Pino faces numerous felony charges, including:

• Criminal use of personal identification information: 11 felony counts
• Possession and transfer of equipment to create credit cards: 4 felony counts
• Theft; obtaining credit cards by fraudulent means: 16 felony counts
• Illegal possession of another's personal identification information: 11 felony counts
• Trafficking or possession of counterfeit credit cards: 11 felony counts
• Use of a scanning device, skimming device, or re-encoder to defraud; possession of a skimming device; penalties: 4 felony counts

According to the FHP, Del Pino is currently on federal probation and also has an immigration detainer.

Charges Against Yandi Valdés Rodríguez

Valdés Rodríguez is also facing serious charges, including:

• Criminal use of personal identification information: 11 felony counts
• Possession and transfer of equipment to create credit cards: 4 felony counts
• Theft; obtaining credit cards by fraudulent means: 15 felony counts
• Illegal possession of another's personal identification information: 11 felony counts
• Trafficking or possession of counterfeit credit cards: 11 felony counts
• Use of a scanning device, skimming device, or re-encoder to defraud; possession of a skimming device; penalties: 4 felony counts

The investigation into these activities remains ongoing.