Federal Grand Jury Charges Five in Multi-State Investigation
A federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas, has indicted five men accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars in crude oil from a storage yard in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
The defendants—Maxwell Sterling Jensen, Thomas Rees, Christopher Ortega, Christian Contreras Varela, and German Ortiz Santillano—face charges of conspiracy, interstate transportation of stolen property, and aiding and abetting in connection with a months-long oil theft operation.
Thefts Spanned Multiple Permian Basin Sites
Crude Oil Stolen and Sold from Carlsbad Yard
According to the FBI investigation, the thefts occurred between March 12 and August 22, 2025, and involved crude oil stolen from production sites across the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico.
Investigators allege the men transported and resold the stolen oil from a yard in Carlsbad, disguising the transactions as legitimate business operations.
Federal authorities estimate the stolen oil was valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, with proceeds distributed among the accused.
FBI Used Tracking Device to Monitor Operation
Informant Helped Lead Agents to Suspects
The FBI launched the investigation after receiving a tip from a confidential informant. Agents later planted a tracking device on a tanker truck used by the suspects, allowing them to monitor the theft and delivery routes between March and August 2025.
The tracking data confirmed multiple trips between New Mexico oil fields and the Carlsbad yard, where oil was allegedly resold to unsuspecting buyers.
Charges and Next Steps
Defendants Face Federal Prosecution in Texas
The five defendants now face prosecution in U.S. District Court in El Paso, where they will answer to felony charges that could carry substantial prison sentences if convicted.
Federal prosecutors have not yet announced whether additional indictments are expected, but investigators said the case highlights the growing problem of oil theft across the Permian Basin, where remote locations and high oil volumes create opportunities for organized theft operations.
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