30-04-2025
Arrests made in Houston County diesel theft ring
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN) — Seven people from around the country have been arrested in Houston County after authorities say they stole thousands of gallons of fuel from Wiregrass gas stations.
On April 24, deputies with the Houston County Sheriff's Office responded to the Hobo Pantry gas station in the 700 block of Ross Clark Circle after receiving a report that over 350 gallons of diesel fuel had been stolen from the station. The fuel stolen was estimated at approximately $1,288.
Deputies found that diesel fuel had been stolen from Hobo Pantry stores in Headland and Eufaula after receiving the call about the robbery on the Ross Clark Circle.
Around 1,200 gallons of fuel had been stolen from the Headland location, worth $4,380. The Hobo Pantry in Eufaula had approximately 2,142 gallons stolen, valued at $7,818.
According to the Houston County Sheriff's Office, it was discovered that the stolen fuel had been transported to a location outside of Atlanta, and a U-Haul trailer, a black Ford truck, and an orange Dodge Ram had transported the stolen fuel.
During a press conference Wednesday morning, Sheriff Donald Valenza revealed that on Saturday, deputies found the black truck, the attached U-Hau, and the Dodge Ram at the Hobo Pantry on Ross Clark Circle, where the thefts occurred. Deputies took the occupants of the Ford into custody, but the Dodge Ram drove away.
Later that day, the Dodge Ram was found at a home on Strathmore Avenue in Dothan, where four others were arrested, Sheriff Valenza said.
A total of seven suspects were arrested and charged:
Tamari Gooden, 26 years old, from Dacula, GA (TOP I – No Bond)
Shawauna Gooden, 26 years old, from Dacula, GA (TOP I – No Bond)
Jerek Davis, 27 years old, from Rex, GA (TOP I, RSP II – No Bond)
Marlin Rucker, 26 years old from Atlanta, GA (TOP I – No Bond)
Roderick Pearson, 22 years old from Stonecrest, GA (UPCS and POM II – $13,500)
Florrane James, 30 years old from Baltimore, MD (Fugitive from Justice – No Bond)
The sheriff says search warrants were obtained for several vehicles and a home in Dothan, and deputies found six large-capacity fuel tanks, three electric fuel pumps, illegal drugs, a head-held electronic access device, and three firearms, one of which was stolen from Georgia.
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