Federal authorities have charged five men in connection with a scheme to steal and resell crude oil from pipelines in New Mexico and West Texas. According to court documents, Special Agents with the Bureau of Land Management began investigating the group in June 2025 after receiving information about their activities.
The defendants—Maxwell Jensen, Thomas Rees, Christopher Ortega, German Ortiz-Santillano, and Christian Jesus Contreras Varela—are accused of stealing crude oil from Plains All American Pipeline facilities in New Mexico. The oil was allegedly stored at a yard in Carlsbad before being transported into West Texas for resale. Surveillance operations, tracking devices, and recorded conversations documented more than 20 theft runs over approximately four weeks. Each run reportedly involved hundreds of barrels per day, with each load valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
Court records state that Thomas Rees managed the Carlsbad yard through his company Hound Dog Energy. He is alleged to have received and sold stolen oil while creating fraudulent load tickets to conceal the thefts. Christopher Ortega is accused of directing truck drivers, preparing false documentation, and recruiting others to join the conspiracy. German Ortiz-Santillano worked for Plains All American Pipeline and is alleged to have used his position to provide access to pigging stations where the thefts occurred. Christian Jesus Contreras Varela allegedly drove a vacuum truck to siphon oil from the pipeline before returning it to Rees’s yard. Maxwell Jensen is described as having coordinated the operation as its leader.
The charges include interstate transportation of stolen property and aiding and abetting. Contreras Varela also faces a firearms-related offense for being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Both Jensen and Contreras Varela will remain in custody until trial dates are set.
If convicted on current charges, Jensen, Rees, Ortega, and Ortiz-Santillano face up to 10 years in prison; Contreras Varela could face up to 15 years due to additional charges.
“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.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
