A nearly year-long investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has led to the arrest of two suspects tied to a large-scale diesel fuel theft operation stretching across multiple communities in Southern California.
The case began on May 16, 2025, when deputies responded to a reported fuel theft at a business in Mecca. When officers arrived, they found an abandoned vehicle, with suspects already gone. Investigators later discovered that the group had been manipulating diesel pumps and using specially modified vehicles to transport stolen fuel undetected. That initial theft involved around 463 gallons, valued at approximately $2,100.
Months later, on March 11, 2026, a second major theft was reported in Coachella. This time, nearly 9,000 gallons of diesel were stolen, resulting in losses estimated at $63,000. Authorities noted that the method matched the earlier incident, confirming it was part of a larger, organized operation.
Through continued surveillance and multiple search warrants across areas including Perris, Homeland, and Apple Valley, investigators identified the suspects as 40-year-old Steven Anthony Bailey and 27-year-old Brian Briseno Mena.
Both men were arrested on April 7 in Perris without incident and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center. Bailey faces multiple charges, including grand theft and conspiracy, while Mena was arrested on a felony warrant related to fuel theft.
Officials say the investigation is still ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
