6 plead guilty to stealing tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil to sell at discounted rates

LUBBOCK, Texas (KOSA/Gray News) - Six people pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to steal crude oil from Permian Basin producers and resell it for profit, federal prosecutors announced.According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, the guilty pleas stem from a seven-count indictment that 14 defendants took part in the scheme.Those who pleaded guilty on July 15 are:Gyardo Gonzalez, 47, of LovingtonMario Mendoza, 40, of LovingtonMiguel A. Soto, 41, of LovingtonLuis Rojo, 51, of SeminoleDiana Marquez Rojo, 47, of HobbsJesus Martin Hernandez-Borja, of HobbsIn court filings, the defendants admitted to stealing tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil from producers in eastern New Mexico and selling it to Louis George Edgett, 69, of Lovington, and Brenden Floyd Strickland, 26, of Hobbs, who are also charged in the case.Federal prosecutors said Edgett and Strickland bought the stolen oil for well below West Texas Intermediate market prices, typically pa