4 males face conspiracy expenses in McKenzie County alleging they stole greater than $2.4 million value of crude oil over a interval of greater than a yr.
Michael Garcia, Mark McGregor and Darrell Merrell, all of Watford Metropolis; and Joseph Vandewalker, of Arnegard, are every charged with felony counts of conspiracy to commit theft and dealing in stolen property.
Garcia is also charged with a felony rely of main a felony affiliation.
The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Workplace alleges in courtroom paperwork that Endeavor Crude truck drivers Merrell and Vandewalker skimmed oil they had been to dump at a Crestwood Midstream facility, reportedly by manipulating tools resembling switch pumps throughout their deliveries.
The 2 suspects allegedly saved the oil in two tanks on the so-called Little Knife Disposal south of Watford Metropolis, and later offloaded and offered the stolen oil they’re accused of skimming.
The Oil & Gasoline Division of North Dakota’s Division of Mineral Sources has “no facility permits or something of the type on this space close to Watford Metropolis the place this allegedly passed off,” in response to Underground Injection Management and Treating Plant Supervisor Mark Bohrer.
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The affidavit within the case reported 149 deliveries from Little Knife Disposal to the Crestwood facility from November 2020 to March 2022. Crestwood Midstream reported 34,199 barrels of crude oil obtained from Little Knife Disposal, value greater than $2.45 million, in response to the doc.
The fees additionally allege McGregor organized pickup dates and particulars for the oil and that Garcia is the “cash hyperlink” for promoting the oil and paying drivers.
Garcia informed investigators in April that skimming oil is “a typical apply out right here,” in response to the affidavit.
“There are numerous trucking firms out right here that skim oil, everyone does it, it is very straightforward, you possibly can manipulate the numbers,” Garcia mentioned, in response to the affidavit.
The investigation started after the sheriff’s workplace in March took a report of stolen crude oil from a former driver of the trucking firm.
Garcia and Merrell have pleaded not responsible, with a jury trial set for Nov. 14.
McGregor and Vandewalker have preliminary hearings/arraignments set for Sept. 1.
Attorneys for the 4 defendants didn’t reply to messages requesting remark.
McKenzie County State’s Lawyer Ty Skarda declined to touch upon the case, citing an ongoing investigation.