Latest news with #JamesJensen
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From Crude To Crime: Family's $47M Oil Scheme Allegedly Bankrolled Mexican Cartel
Federal officials are charging a father and son, who operated an oil business in South Texas, with aiding a violent Mexican cartel. James Lael Jensen, 68, and Maxwell Sterling Jensen, 25, allegedly 'conspired to provide material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación' (CJNG),' according to a press release from the Department of Justice. They allegedly operated Arroyo Terminals in Rio Hondo, near the Texas-Mexico border. 'This case underscores the more aggressive and innovative approach the Southern District of Texas is taking towards combatting the scourge of drug cartels,' said U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei in the press release. 'This strategy focuses not just on the traffickers and trigger-pullers directly employed by the cartels, but also targeting their confederates and enablers.' James Jensen is reportedly from Sandy, Utah, while Maxwell Jensen is from Draper, Utah. A superseding indictment was returned on May 22, charging them with conspiracy to 'materially support' the cartel – a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 'related smuggling charges.' The father and son are also charged with 'conspiring to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of illegally smuggled goods, crude oil,' according to the press release. They allegedly 'aided and abetted' the 'fraudulent entry' of close to 2,881 shipments of oil. The indictment accused James and Kelly Jensen of funneling more than $47 million to Mexican businesses connected to the cartel, according to KRGV. An arrest warrant cited by the outlet accused them of making payments for crude oil 'to businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of Mexican criminal organization,' and it claimed, 'James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to these Mexican criminal organizations.' 'Cases like this highlight the often-dangerous relationships between alleged unscrupulous U.S. businesses and terrorist organizations,' stated Craig Larrabee, special agent in charge of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio, in the release. 'Through strong collaborations and relentless investigative work, we and our partners exposed a possible large-scale operation that allegedly attempted to move millions in illicit crude oil and launder the proceeds.' Police arrested James Jensen and his wife Kelly on April 27, according to KRGV. Their sons, Maxwell and Zachary Jensen, were also arrested. All four suspects pleaded not guilty. Officials seized four 'tank barges' with crude oil, three commercial tanker trucks, an Arroyo Terminal pickup, and a 'personal vehicle' at the time of the arrests, according to the release. The Arroyo Terminal property in Rio Hondo included crude oil storage tanks and 'additional real properties' for which the government is seeking forfeiture. Upon conviction, the government will also seek a $300 million monetary judgment. James and Maxwell Jensen could face 20 years in prison for the charges of conspiracy to provide material support and to commit money laundering. They could face additional sentences of five and 10 years if convicted of aiding and abetting smuggling and doing so 'by means of false statements.' James Jensen faces another charge of 'money laundering spending,' which could bring an additional 10 years in prison. The money laundering charge could bring fines of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property, and the other charges could bring up to $250,000 in fines. The investigation was a 'joint effort' between law enforcement, including the DEI, FBI, and ICE-HSI. The agencies found 'substantial assistance' from Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals, IRS Criminal Investigations, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. 'What began as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) drug trafficking investigation evolved into a multifaceted case involving an alleged complex criminal operation generating millions of dollars from crude oil – the largest funding source for Mexican drug cartels,' stated William Kimbell, DEA-Houston acting special agent in charge, in the press release. This investigation was part of the broader 'Operation Take Back America,' a national mission using the 'full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.' The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG, is 'responsible for a significant proportion of fentanyl and other deadly drugs trafficked into the United States,' according to the Department of the Treasury. While the Sinaloa Cartel has historically been dominant in Dallas and Fort Worth, the CJNG has also been in the area, according to the 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment. Years later, in 2024, Texas was still among the states with the most Mexican cartel presence. 'Mexico-based drug trafficking cartels such as CJNG have turned to fuel theft and crude oil smuggling in recent years, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue for the Mexican government,' according to the Treasury's website. 'These schemes have grown into powerful revenue generators for CJNG, enabling their campaigns of narcotics trafficking in the United States and violence against Mexican government forces along the U.S. southwest border.' Aaron Tapp, FBI special agent in charge of the San Antonio Field Office, said in the release that it is a 'top priority' for the bureau to 'eliminate foreign terrorist organizations' by cutting off their funding and seizing their assets. 'Together with our law enforcement partners, we will use every resource and capability at our disposal to ensure violent cartels and anyone who corruptly facilitates their operations are held accountable to the American people and unable to establish a foothold in our communities,' Tapp said in the release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Sturgis and Laura Garcia are prosecuting this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Ellen Smyth and Tyler Foster are 'handling seizure and forfeiture.' 'Whether you are handing the cartel a gun, providing a car or safehouse for smugglers, or putting money in the cartel's pocket,' Ganjei said in the release, 'you will be held to account.'
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Daily Mail
American oil magnate, his wife and two sons indicted over $300M crime scheme linked to Mexican cartels
An American oil magnate and his family have been arrested for allegedly working with Mexican cartels to smuggle over $300 million worth of crude oil into the United States. James Laen Jensen, 68, and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen, were taken into custody from their $9.1 million mansion in Utah last month in a multi-state raid that also saw their two sons, Maxwell and Zachary, arrested in Texas, according to My San Antonio. Federal prosecutors claim they violated the US Tariff Act by smuggling in 2,881 shipments of oil from Mexico - worth at least $300 million - that they falsely claimed were 'waste of lube oils' and petroleum distillates' beginning in May 2022, ABC 4 reports. The family was allegedly able to smuggle the crude oil into the country via barges docked outside their Texas facility, Arroyo Terminals, near the Mexican border. All of the crude oil was reportedly stolen by drug cartels from PEMEX - Mexico's nationalized oil company. 'The payments for this crude oil were directed to businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of [a] Mexican criminal organization,' federal prosecutors allege in court documents obtained by KSL. 'James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to these Mexican criminal organizations,' they continued. A warrant for James' arrest even claims he paid over $47 million to these dangerous criminal entities. James and Kelly were ultimately arrested on April 23, following an investigation by he US Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI, the Criminal Investigations division of the IRS and Homeland Security Investigations. When US Marshals arrived at his 26,893 mansion in Sandy, Utah, prosecutors say the couple was unwilling to follow law enforcements' demands to come out - forcing Marshals to use a battering ram to break down the door, Valley Central reports. Meanwhile, other agents raided Arroyo Terminal in Texas, where they reportedly placed employees in handcuffs and questioned them about the business. One unidentified employee told Valley Central that the FBI agents then asked them whether the crude oil had been stolen. 'We don't know anything about that,' the employee said. 'We're just in charge of unloading the trucks and loading the barges.' Another employee added that, 'When it comes to the aspect of knowing where the oil's coming from or what company or what part of Mexico or anything like that, we were always out of the loop.' In the end, the agents reportedly took documents from the building and requested passwords for the computers. 'When I went into the office to use the restroom, I did hear the FBI high-five and say: "We got 'em,"' a third employee claimed. James is now facing charges of money laundering conspiracy, aiding and abetting smuggling of goods into the United States, aiding and abetting the entry of goods by means of false statements, money laundering spending conspiracy and money laundering spending. The other members of his family are each facing one to three of the counts. They have each pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. In court, Assistant US Attorney Laura Garcia asked US Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III to hold Maxwell - who co-owns Arroyo Terminals with his father - without bond, saying he worked closely with 'cartel-affiliated businesses' and frequently travels to the Bahamas, where the family has a property. Torteya ultimately agreed, holding Maxwell without bond, as he set bond for his brother - who handled the company's marketing and business development - at $100,000 with a $10,000 cash deposit. He now must remain at home and submit to GPS monitoring. Similarly in Utah, Dustin B Pead, the chief magistrate judge for the United States District of Utah, decided to allow James and Kelly to remain at home and submit to GPS monitoring after their lawyers successfully argued they were upstanding citizens. 'They're active in their church, they're active in their community, they come from a stalwart Utah family,' attorney John Huber argued, noting that Kelly's parents 'have served in public service for decades. 'And they don't want to throw all that all out of the window,' he pleaded in court. Kelly's father, Gordon Walker, served in the Department of Housing and Urban Development under former President Ronald Reagan and her mother, Carlene Walker, served in the Utah State Senate. Pead then released the couple without setting bond. 'I'm counting on what your attorneys have said here today - that you are the upstanding people that your attorneys state you are,' he warned the couple, as he ordered them to turn over their passports and regularly report to their pretrial officer. They were also forced to forfeit any money gained from the smuggled oil - including their company, an additional home listed for the family in Draper, Utah as well as bank accounts and new cars totaling $300 million. Yet this is not the first time James of buying stolen petroleum products. In 2011, PEMEX Exploration and Production filed a suit against him, claiming he and two businesses he owned - Big Star Gathering and St. James Oil - had purchased stolen natural gas condensate. 'At times, Jensen would travel to Mexico to arrange purchases from the cartels who had stolen the condensate,' the lawsuit alleged, according to Valley Central. James denied any wrongdoing, but admitted Big Star had business dealings with an oil company executive who had stolen natural gas condensate. All of the transactions happened before that executive pleaded guilty, he said in an affidavit at the time. Meanwhile, attorney's for his other business, St. James Oil, urged a judge to dismiss the case. 'St. James's business reputation and creditworthiness suffer every day that it continues to be named in a lawsuit alleging participation in a drug cartel-related conspiracy,' it argued in a motion. PEMEX ultimately dropped the suit in 2013, after two years of litigation. But if any of the family members are now found guilty of the charges against them, they could face a maximum of 20 years in federal lockup and fines of up to $500,000.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah couple arrested at their 27,000 sq ft mansion for allegedly running $300M scam smuggling oil from Mexico
James Lael and Kelly Anne Jensen's sprawling, $9-million mansion in Sandy, Utah is the kind of luxury home out of reach to the average American — but not to the long arm of the law. As KSL-TV reports, U.S. Marshals arrested the couple at their 27,000-square-foot property in late April as part of a multi-state raid. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The same day, authorities raided James Jensen's company Arroyo Terminals in Rio Hondo, Texas, near the Mexican border. The couple — along with sons Maxwell and Zachary — have been indicted for money laundering in the U.S. District Court of Southern Texas. They are accused of running a $300-million money-laundering scheme, allegedly smuggling crude oil from Mexico. The federal indictment outlines a complex scheme dating back to May 2022. Here's what court documents suggest, along with a look at what criminal trade in crude oil costs Americans. Court documents state that the Jensens brought 2,881 shipments of crude oil into the U.S. — falsely labeled as 'waste of lube oils' and 'petroleum distillates.' The Jensens are accused of directing payments for the crude oil to Mexican businesses that operate 'through the permission of Mexican criminal organizations.' Read more: Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Court documents allege that James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to Mexican criminal organizations. The Jensens have a court order to forfeit the Arroyo Terminals business along with oil tankers, a second property in Draper, Utah, new cars and money in their bank accounts — assets that collectively total $300 million according to KSL-TV. At the global level, criminal trade in crude oil is a massive operation. The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade estimates that criminal trade in crude oil is worth upwards of $11.9 billion annually, involving up to 227 million barrels of oil every year. Windward AI, a U.K.-based company that helps organizations deal with maritime challenges, notes that oil smuggling causes supply-chain disruptions that lead to shortages and higher gas prices. Port and border agents delay the delivery of legitimate oil shipments while they investigate potential cases of smuggled oil. Those delays are costly for legitimate oil suppliers, who may pass those costs on to consumers. According to the Energy Information Administration, the cost of crude oil is the largest driver of the price you pay at the pump. Smuggled oil can impact the price of crude oil, making gas more expensive. Aside from its impact on the price of gasoline, smuggled crude oil can compromise the quality of gasoline, which is a safety concern. Another safety concern? Trade in smuggled oil supports criminal activity and can fund terrorist organizations internationally and here in the U.S. The Jensens, for example, allegedly engaged in activity that was said to support Mexican criminal organizations. That's why shutting down such schemes is not only good for most people's pocketbooks, but for public safety. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead There's a 60% chance of a recession hitting the American economy this year — protect your retirement savings with these essential money moves ASAP (most of which you can complete in just minutes) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Utah couple arrested for smuggling millions of dollars of crude oil, documents say
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah () — A Utah couple has been arrested for allegedly smuggling crude oil into the United States through Mexican criminal organizations. Two of their sons are also involved in the case. According to recently unsealed court documents, James Lael Jensen, Maxwell Sterling Jensen, Kelly Anne Jensen, and Zachary Golden Jensen were all indicted for money laundering in the U.S. District Court of Southern Texas. The indictment states that they allegedly brought 2,881 shipments of crude oil into the United States, claiming it was falsely labelled 'waste of lube oils' and 'petroleum distillates.' Bomb squad responds after 'pipe bombs' reportedly found in vehicle near Provo mall An estimated $300 million in property owned by the family involved is subject to forfeiture if they are convicted. This includes business property, personal vehicles, and even a home located in Draper, Utah. James and Kelly Jensen have been arrested in Utah, according to filings in the case. In the warrant filed for James Jensen's arrest, authorities say that over $47 million has gone from him to Mexican businesses. They allege that he is 'in business relationships with individuals he knows work with Mexican criminal organizations.' According to the warrant, James and Kelly Jensen own a home in the Bahamas that they visit every other month. They were there as recently as the week of April 14. Driver of truck that crashed into Oquirrh Lake passes away 'James Jensen conspired with his wife, Kelly Jensen and two of his sons, Maxwell and Zachary Jensen, to launder proceeds from sales of illegally imported crude oil. The payments for this crude oil were directed to businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of Mexican criminal organization[s]. James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to these Mexican criminal organizations,' the warrant stated. A filing by the court yesterday states that Kelly and James Jensen were both released with conditions. They both received several conditions on this release, including not leaving Utah without permission, surrendering their passports, and reporting to a pretrial officer regularly. The United States Marshal Service was ordered to release them from the courthouse this morning at 9 a.m. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. One dead, another missing at Grantsville Reservoir after boat incident Funeral services to be held Saturday for Deserae Turner Warm and windy weather into the weekend Utah couple arrested for smuggling millions of dollars of crude oil, documents say Trump asks if NFL owners are 'stupid' for passing on Shedeur Sanders in draft Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
