U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales takes stand against escalating oilfield crime in West Texas
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - In response to the alarming surge in oilfield-related criminal activities plaguing communities across West Texas, U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales has initiated a multifaceted approach aimed at addressing this pressing issue. With the region’s economic vitality and public safety at stake, Gonzales has emerged as a proactive advocate for strengthening law enforcement efforts and implementing strategic interventions to contain the rise in oilfield crime.
“West Texas isn’t the place to come and steal oil.”
The 23rd Congressional District is vast stretching from San Antonio to El Paso. It encompasses a number of counties that are experiencing the negative impact of oil theft, vandalism, and other illicit activities targeting the energy sector. Recently, Gonzales commissioned an outreach initiative, engaging with local sheriffs, law enforcement officials, and community leaders in Crane, Winkler, and Reagan counties to gain firsthand insights into the challenges posed by rampant oilfield crime.
During these discussions, law enforcement authorities highlighted the nature of the problem emphasizing the boldness of criminals who target both major corporations and smaller independent operators alike. Instances of oil theft where perpetrators siphon off significant amounts of crude oil from storage facilities have become more common increasing concerns about economic losses and environmental damage.
Sheriff Darin Mitchell of Winkler County underscored the magnitude of the challenge noting that the oilfield crime extends beyond mere theft into a range of illicit activities, including stealing other valuable resources such as copper wire and diesel fuel.
“We’ve been getting a lot of copper wire thefts, pipes that have just been laying on the ground, they are picking those up, and diesel from pulling units. Anything that’s not really bolted down, it seems like they are just rampant and stealing everything.”
With limited resources and manpower at their disposal, local law enforcement agencies have struggled to effectively combat these criminal operations prompting for federal intervention and support.
In light of these concerns, Congressman Gonzales convened a crucial meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray to address the urgent need for federal action. During the meeting, Gonzales emphasized the necessity of enhancing coordination between federal and local law enforcement agencies, advocating for the establishment of specialized task forces dedicated to investigating and prosecuting offenders engaged in oil theft and related offenses.
Director Wray acknowledged the severity of the situation and affirmed the FBI’s commitment to addressing the issue through the deployment of specialized resources including the Oilfield Theft Task Force.
“It’s already in place, but as you alluded to earlier, there’s times when it spikes and then it dwindles and it spikes again. Overall, it’s very clear that this oil theft crisis is spreading and I wanna make sure that we’re all paddling in the same direction.”
Looking ahead, Congressman Gonzales is prepared to lead a comprehensive strategy aimed at combating oilfield crime and safeguarding the economic interests of West Texas communities. His proposed plan includes convening a high-level roundtable discussion involving key stakeholders from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as representatives from the energy industry and community organizations.
The objective of this roundtable will be to form a cohesive and integrated approach in order to address the root causes of oilfield crime, leveraging intelligence-sharing mechanisms, technology-driven solutions, and targeted enforcement actions. By fostering greater collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, Gonzales aims to mitigate negative impacts of oilfield-related criminal activities and ensure the long-term prosperity and security of West Texas.
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