Multiple people charged for interstate transportation of stolen cooking oil to be converted to biodiesel
Federal prosecutors have brought charges tied to the alleged interstate movement of stolen cooking oil that was intended to be converted into biodiesel, according to the information provided. The case is being handled in federal court in Portland, where a grand jury returned indictments naming Ariwite and Adams.
On Sept. 24, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Ariwite and Adams with conspiracy and theft of funds from a Tribal organization. The provided material also notes a separate indictment in which Ariwite was charged with one additional count, though the charge description is incomplete in the source information.
For trucking and transportation professionals, the allegations matter because they involve interstate movement of a commodity—used cooking oil—that has value in the renewable fuels supply chain. When product is stolen and moved across state lines, it can trigger federal involvement and increase scrutiny on how loads are sourced, documented, and delivered.
The broader context included with the information also points to how oil-related enforcement is not limited to highways and ports in the U.S. Iran has occasionally seized oil-carrying vessels in the region over similar types of allegations involving illegal consignments. In November, Iran seized a ship as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz over what it said were violations, including carrying an illegal consignment.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major chokepoint for the global energy supply, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It is a vital route for transporting goods, including oil and natural gas, between the Middle East and the rest of the world—an example of how supply chains can be disrupted when authorities act on suspected illegal cargo movements.
- Case location: Federal court in Portland
- Core allegations provided: Conspiracy and theft of funds from a Tribal organization; separate indictment naming Ariwite for an additional count (not fully described)
- Industry relevance: Enforcement actions tied to oil and fuel supply chains can affect transportation operations and oversight, from documentation to load verification