14 Charged in Major Permian Basin Crude Oil Theft Ring Across State Lines

Key Details Federal authorities have indicted fourteen individuals from Texas and New Mexico on conspiracy charges related to a large-scale crude oil theft operation in the Permian Basin. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas announced the charges on April 22, 2026, targeting defendants accused of stealing crude oil from producers in Eastern New Mexico and transporting it across state lines. How the Scheme Worked According to the indictment, defendants stole crude oil from producers and stored some of it on U.S. government-leased land. They then sold the stolen oil to co-conspirators at prices significantly below standard West Texas Intermediate market rates, before transporting it across the New Mexico-Texas border for resale at higher profits. Investigators say the defendants knowingly profited from stolen property. Why It Matters Multiple agencies collaborated on this investigation, including the FBI, Bureau of Land Management, Texas Department of Public Safety, and local sheriff's offices. If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years on conspiracy charges and up to ten years per count for interstate transportation of stolen property. This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat theft in the oil industry and protect legitimate supply chains.