U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross has announced that a federal grand jury has indicted six men on charges related to the theft and resale of used restaurant cooking oil. The individuals, Guodeng Chen, Didi Huang, Fangfang Yan from Pittsford, NY, and Ruimao Yang, Yan Han, Wen Xiao Zhang from New York, NY, face charges of conspiracy to transport and sell stolen goods across state lines. This charge carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Additionally, Chen, Huang, and Yan are charged with transportation and sale of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which could result in up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire explained that the defendants allegedly engaged in a series of thefts targeting used cooking oil from restaurants around Monroe County. This oil can be refined into biodiesel fuel and sold for $4.00 to $5.00 per gallon. According to the indictment and prior complaints, Yang, Han, and Zhang collected the oil using trucks while Zhang stole it from collection tanks at various restaurants.

The stolen oil was then transported to a warehouse where Han assisted with its storage. Chen, Huang, and Yan reportedly sold the oil to a broker who facilitated its transport across state lines to a refinery in Pennsylvania. Notably, on April 8 and April 28 of 2022, approximately 45,000 pounds of stolen oil were shipped from Western New York to Erie, Pennsylvania on two separate occasions. Each shipment netted over $5,000.

This case results from an investigation conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Todd Baxter's leadership; Homeland Security Investigations led by Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division directed by Harry Chavis as Acting Executive Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office.

Authorities remind the public that an indictment is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.