Two arrested after troopers find credit card skimmers during I-80 traffic stop near Lexington

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) arrested two men during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Lexington on Thursday after discovering credit card skimming devices in their vehicle. The stop occurred around 1:30 p.m. when a trooper noticed an SUV traveling eastbound with expired license plates and detected the smell of marijuana emanating from inside.

Upon searching the SUV, the trooper discovered a small amount of marijuana along with the skimming devices, which are used to illegally collect credit card information. The driver, 33-year-old Omar Reyes Galvez from California, and his passenger, 34-year-old Gerard Rodriguez-Montes De Oca from Nevada, were both taken into custody.

Both men were charged with possession of electronic scanning devices with the intent to obtain encoded payment card information. Additionally, Rodriguez-Montes De Oca was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant from Nevada, further complicating the situation.

Following the arrests, both men were placed in the Dawson County Jail, where they will await further legal proceedings. NSP continues to emphasize the importance of thorough traffic stops in preventing financial crimes and ensuring road safety.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding credit card fraud and the use of skimming devices, which pose significant threats to consumers' financial information.