Executive Summary
- Five men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas, on charges of conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property.
- The group is accused of stealing crude oil valued at tens of thousands of dollars from the Permian Basin in New Mexico between March and August 2025.
- The FBI investigation was aided by a confidential informant and a tracking device placed on a tanker truck used in the alleged scheme.
- The case is being prosecuted in federal court and highlights the broader issue of oil theft in the region.
A federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas, has indicted five men on charges related to a conspiracy to steal tens of thousands of dollars worth of crude oil from production sites in New Mexico. The indictment accuses the individuals of transporting and reselling the stolen property across state lines over several months.
Details of the Indictment
The defendants—identified as Maxwell Sterling Jensen, Thomas Rees, Christopher Ortega, Christian Contreras Varela, and German Ortiz Santillano—face federal charges of conspiracy, interstate transportation of stolen property, and aiding and abetting. According to court documents, the alleged thefts occurred between March 12 and August 22, 2025.
Investigators allege the men stole crude oil from various production sites in the Permian Basin region of southeastern New Mexico. The stolen oil was then reportedly transported to a yard in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where it was resold through transactions disguised as legitimate business operations.
The Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated its inquiry after receiving a tip from a confidential informant. To gather evidence, agents planted a tracking device on a tanker truck allegedly used by the suspects. The device allowed investigators to monitor the truck’s movements between oil fields and the Carlsbad yard from March to August 2025, corroborating the informant’s information.
Legal Proceedings and Context
The five men will be prosecuted in the U.S. District Court in El Paso, Texas. Federal officials have highlighted the case as an example of the ongoing issue of organized oil theft in the Permian Basin, a region where remote infrastructure can be vulnerable. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.