4 North Dakota men accused of stealing $2.4 million of crude oil

WATFORD CITY, N.D. — 4 males in North Dakota are accused of stealing roughly $2.4 million value of crude oil for greater than a 12 months, authorities mentioned.

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McKenzie County court docket information cite 149 deliveries of stolen oil between November 2020 and March 2022, primarily based on reviews by officers with Crestwood Midstream. The entire variety of barrels provides as much as 34,199, value greater than $2.4 million, in line with the Williston Herald.

In accordance with McKenzie County on-line reserving information, the boys arrested have been Michael Jason Garcia, 42, of Watford Metropolis; Mark Allan McGregor, 60, of Watford Metropolis; Joseph John Vandewalker, 34, of Arnegard; and Darrell Woody Merrell, 42, of Watford Metropolis.

All 4 have been charged with conspiracy to commit theft, a Class A felony; and dealing in stolen property, a Class B felony. Garcia additionally faces a cost of main a prison group, additionally a Class B felony, the Herald reported.

The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Workplace alleges in court docket paperwork that Merrell and Vandewalker, who’re truck drivers, skimmed oil they have been scheduled to unload at a Crestwood Midstream facility, The Bismarck Tribune reported. Courtroom paperwork allege that the boys manipulated gear resembling switch pumps throughout their deliveries.

Merrell and Vandewalker allegedly saved the oil in two tanks at a facility south of Watford Metropolis and later bought the stolen oil, in line with the newspaper.

The Oil & Gasoline Division of North Dakota’s Division of Mineral Assets has “no facility permits or something of the type on this space close to Watford Metropolis the place this allegedly passed off,” plant supervisor Mark Bohrer advised the Tribune.

McGregor was caring for the transportation and housing of the stolen oil, whereas Garcia was advertising and marketing it, the Herald reported.

Garcia advised investigators in April that skimming oil is “a standard observe out right here,” in line with the affidavit.

“There are numerous trucking corporations out right here that skim oil, everyone does it, it’s very simple, you may manipulate the numbers,” Garcia mentioned.

The investigation started after the sheriff’s McKenzie County Sheriff’s Workplace obtained a report of stolen crude oil from a former driver of the trucking firm in March, the Tribune reported.

McGregor and Vandewalker have preliminary hearings scheduled for Sept. 1, whereas Merrell and Garcia have pleaded not responsible and have a jury trial set for Nov. 14, in line with the newspaper.

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