LAS CRUCES – Fourteen individuals from Texas and New Mexico have been indicted in what federal prosecutors describe as a large-scale oil theft conspiracy tied to operations in the Permian Basin, a case that investigators say involved transporting stolen crude oil across state lines for profit.
According to federal authorities, a grand jury in Lubbock returned indictments charging the defendants with conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. Several of the individuals also face additional federal charges, including transporting, receiving, possessing, or selling stolen property.
Investigators allege the group stole crude oil from producers in eastern New Mexico and moved the product across the Texas-New Mexico border into Texas, where it was sold at prices significantly below standard market rates. Prosecutors say some of the stolen oil was temporarily stored on federally leased land before being resold within the alleged conspiracy.
Federal officials stated that those involved were aware the oil had been stolen at the time it was transported and sold. Among those charged are Randell Wayne Reid and James Darrell Reid of Electra, Texas, who are identified as owners of Reidco Enterprises, an oil services company located outside Wichita Falls.
Authorities emphasized that the case reflects the ongoing challenge of protecting energy infrastructure in the Permian Basin, one of the nation’s most active oil-producing regions, which includes portions of southeastern New Mexico and West Texas.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge and up to ten years in federal prison for each count involving the interstate transportation, receipt, possession, or sale of stolen property.
All persons mentioned in today’s report are innocent until proven guilty by a court.
By John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC – john@bravomic.com
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