Investigations

In May 2012, Richard J. Baca, Luis C. Campos, Fernando J. Baca and Tomas H. Quintero were sentenced in U.S. District Court, El Paso, Texas, for their roles in the theft of Department of Defense (DoD) aviation fuel and a motor fuels tax evasion scheme.  Richard Baca was sentenced and ordered to serve 5 years of probation.  He was also ordered to pay $83,814 in restitution which includes $76,787 to the Defenses Logistic Agency (DLA) and $7,026 to the Federal Highway Trust Fund (FHTF).   Mr. Campos was sentenced to serve a 4 month imprisonment term and 36 months of supervised release.  He was ordered to pay joint restitution with Fernando Baca and Mr. Quintero of $318,328, which includes $291,817 to DLA and $26,511 to the FHTF.  Fernando Baca was sentenced to serve a 15 month imprisonment term and 36 months of supervised release.  In addition to the $318,328 in joint restitution,  he was also ordered to pay $25,504 in restitution to the IRS.  Mr. Quintero was sentenced and ordered to serve a 30 month imprisonment term and 36 months of supervised release.  In addition to the aforementioned joint restitution, Mr. Quintero was ordered to pay $43,806 to the IRS. 

Richard and Fernando Baca are co-owners of RJ Baca Trucking.  Mr. Campos and Mr. Quintero are two former employees of DoD contractor, Trajen Flight Support.  Our investigation disclosed that these individuals participated in a conspiracy to steal aviation fuel from Briggs Army Airfield (Briggs AAF), El Paso, Texas, for use in commercial trucks.  Trajen Flight Support operates the refueling station at Briggs AAF and is reimbursed for motor fuels excise taxes paid for all fuel used at the airbase.  Mr. Quintero would notify the Bacas when to bring their trucks onto the airfield for fueling.   Mr. Quintero and Mr. Campos would then produce false inventory records to conceal the stolen fuel from the Army.  The Bacas would pay $1.50 to $1.75 a gallon to Mr. Quintero or Mr. Campos for the fuel, and on occasion resell the fuel for up to $2.90 a gallon.