Three Men Arrested In Melbourne Fuel Heist

MELBOURNE, Florida -- At approximately midnight on Monday June 18, 2012, Melbourne Police responded to the Murphy USA gas station, located 3940 North Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida, regarding a theft of fuel.   

The gas station clerk contacted police after she observed a white Ford van and a white Ford pick-up truck pumping gas at two separate pumps.  However, the station’s meter was not registering the sales. 

Once the vehicles left the business, the clerk inspected the pumps and noticed they had been broken into and tampered with.  It was also discovered that approximately $400 worth of unpaid diesel fuel was taken.  

Officers soon located the suspect vehicles as they were pulling into the 7-Eleven gas station at Pineda Crossing Drive and North Wickham Road.  A traffic stop was conducted, and officers made contact with the vehicle occupants, Bryon A. Rucker, Corey V. Williams and Neil Sanchez Richeliey. 

Officers discovered the Ford van pictured above had two large fuel storage tanks containing fuel in the back of it. It is believed that these tanks were used to store the stolen diesel fuel.  

The Ford pick-up truck had a trailer attached to it that also contained two fuel storage tanks that had no fuel in them.  The three men were arrested and taken to the Brevard County Jail.