Six people, including three officers from Forney-based Vallee Oil and Gas, were arrested Aug. 12 on state charges including felony oil theft, money laundering and organized crime, according to Houston Chronicle. Increases in oilfield theft led to major regulatory reform last year and the creation of a Railroad Commission of Texas task force.
Chronicle said officials from Vallee, wastewater disposal company with operations in Midland, were charged in Reeves County, and three other people arrested were not named in court records. The alleged multi-state oil theft ring included petroleum acquired and sold across multiple states, including Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Railroad Commission said authorities seized 2,600 barrels of petroleum products valued at more than $220,000 in addition to 60 vehicles, $786,215 in cash, 34 luxury watches and jewelry items, and 8 bank accounts containing more than $8 million.
In a recent survey, 41 percent of industry executives said theft affected their operations in the past year. And an FBI task force estimated operators lose up to $300,000 a month to the theft of tools, pipes and valves. Wayne Christian, RRC commissioner, said, “We will work alongside law enforcement to help shut down these criminal enterprises, protect Texas oil and gas producers, and safeguard the integrity of our energy industry.” Texas Department of Public Safety told the Chronicle more arrests are expected.
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