Five Men Charged in Scheme to Steal and Resell Millions of Dollars in Crude Oil from New Mexico Pipelines

ALBUQUERQUE - Federal authorities have charged five men for their roles in a large-scale conspiracy to steal and sell crude oil from pipelines in New Mexico and West Texas.

According to court documents, in June 2025 Special Agents with the Bureau of Land Management opened an investigation after receiving information that Maxwell Jensen, Thomas Rees, Christopher Ortega, German Ortiz-Santillano and Christian Jesus Contreras Varela were engaged in a scheme to steal crude oil from Plains All American Pipeline facilities in New Mexico, store it at a yard in Carlsbad, and transport it into West Texas for resale. Surveillance operations, tracking devices, and recorded conversations documented more than 20 theft runs over approximately four weeks, siphoning hundreds of barrels per day. Each load was valued at tens of thousands of dollars, and the stolen crude was delivered to facilities operated in West Texas.

As alleged, Rees managed the Carlsbad yard through his company, Hound Dog Energy, where he received and sold stolen oil while producing fraudulent load tickets to disguise the thefts. Ortega directed truck drivers, prepared false documentation, and recruited additional participants to expand the conspiracy. Ortiz-Santillano, an employee of Plains All American Pipeline, abused his position to provide the conspirators access to pigging stations where the thefts occurred. Contreras Varela drove to the pipeline to connect a vacuum truck and steal the oil before returning to Rees's yard. Jensen coordinated the scheme as the leader and organizer.

The defendants are charged with interstate transportation of stolen property and aiding and abetting. In addition to the oil theft charges, Contreras Varela, a Mexican national, faces a firearms-related offense for being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Jensen and Contreras Varela will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Jensen, Rees, Ortega and Ortiz-Santillano face 10 years in prison. If convicted of the current charges, Contreras Varela faces 15 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Josiah Andrews of the Bureau of Land Management made the announcement today.

Special Agents with the Bureau of Land Management investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson Hehr is prosecuting this case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.