Man Arrested in Midland for Stealing 34 Barrels of Crude Oil

Midland County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies responded to reports of petroleum theft in the vicinity of FM 1213 and ECR 130 on January 22, 2024. The incident involved a tractor truck with a water tanker entering an oilfield lease, allegedly taking crude oil from a tank battery without the oilfield company’s consent.

Deputies successfully located the suspected tractor truck and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, identified as 32-year-old Jesus Fabian Rodriguez-Scobell, was found to be in possession of approximately 34 barrels of stolen crude oil during the investigation.

Further inquiry revealed that Rodriguez-Scobell had two third-degree felony warrants from Glasscock County for Theft of Petroleum Product, each exceeding $10,000 but less than $100,000. Consequently, Rodriguez-Scobell was arrested and booked into the Midland County Central Detention Center on a new third-degree felony charge of Theft of Petroleum Product, in addition to the two outstanding warrants from Glasscock County.

The investigation is ongoing.