Federal agents have charged five men in a big crude oil theft scheme out of New Mexico, officials said on Monday, September 29, 2025.
The details: Investigators say the group took millions of dollars' worth of oil from Plains All American Pipeline sites and moved it across state lines for resale.
- The investigation started in June 2025 after special agents with the Bureau of Land Management were tipped off.
- Over four weeks, the crew pulled off more than 20 theft runs, moving hundreds of barrels each trip.
- Each load was worth tens of thousands of dollars.
How it worked: Court records say Thomas Rees ran a Carlsbad storage yard through his company, Hound Dog Energy, which handled and sold the stolen oil using fake paperwork.
- Christopher Ortega handled the truck drivers and the documents, while also bringing others into the plan.
- German Ortiz-Santillano, who worked for the pipeline company, is said to have helped the group get into the facilities.
- Christian Jesus Contreras Varela drove the vacuum truck to siphon oil, making runs back to the yard.
- Maxwell Jensen is named the leader and main planner.
Charges: All five are charged with transporting stolen property and related offenses. Contreras Varela, a Mexican national, is also charged for having a firearm as an alien.
If found guilty, Jensen, Rees, Ortega, and Ortiz-Santillano each face up to 10 years in prison. Contreras Varela could get up to 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The trial date has not been set. Jensen and Contreras Varela will remain in custody until then.