Two individuals have been apprehended on charges of stealing nearly 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel, valued at around $65,000, in two separate theft incidents.
Steven Anthony Bailey, aged 40, and 27-year-old Brian Briceño Mena were arrested after police linked them to gas thefts that occurred in May 2025 and March 2026. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office shared this information on Tuesday.
On May 16, 2025, the suspects reportedly arrived at a business in Mecca, tampered with a diesel pump, and utilized a modified vehicle to take roughly 463 gallons of fuel, estimated to be worth about $2,100. They fled the scene but abandoned their vehicle, according to officials.
About 10 months later, on March 11, 2026, the same suspects stole approximately 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel valued at $63,000 from a business in Coachella. Authorities indicated this incident resembled their previous thefts.
Bailey has been booked at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center on multiple charges, including grand larceny and organized retail theft, while Mena was apprehended on a warrant for felony fuel theft.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office added, “The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.”
This operation was executed with the assistance of several local, regional, and state law enforcement agencies, including specialized units.
At the time of the initial theft, diesel prices in California were fluctuating between $4.76 and $4.84 per gallon. By March, diesel prices had soared to nearly $8 a gallon, up from around $6 at the month’s start.
Diesel theft has become a growing concern in California, often described as an “organized crime phenomenon” targeting gas stations and commercial vehicles.
