Last October, Jonathan Stamper — owner of the now-defunct Stampede Lift Solutions — hired a trucking company to transport pumpjacks from oil fields in New Mexico to a business in Texas.

Little did the owners of that Texas business know that they were about to become unwitting accomplices in a brazen heist.

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Now, two companies are out more than $800,000 and caught in the middle of a multi-million dollar alleged theft that sees Stamper facing more than a dozen criminal charges.

The midnight heist

What seemed like a legitimate transport job was actually part of a carefully orchestrated theft, according to police.

Stamper “was able to get everything lined out to where the majority of the people that were involved thought it was a legit business,” Lea County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy J.W. Grady told KRQE.

Unbeknownst to Triple Express Trucking — the trucking company Stamper hired through 7C Logistic Services, LLC — the pumpjacks, valued at $2 million, had been stolen from two Texas-based businesses with operations in the Permian Basin oil fields of Lea and Eddy Counties in New Mexico, according to First Alert 7.

“They brought in trucks in the middle of the night and disassembled them [the pumpjacks], loaded them on trucks, and drove out,” said Grady.

Perhaps the most audacious aspect of the scheme is that Stamper had reportedly sold the pumpjacks before orchestrating the theft.

The business owner in Texas who received the pumpjacks told investigators he had no idea the equipment was stolen. He believed he had legally purchased the pumpjacks from Stamper’s company, which is located in Oklahoma, making the Texas business owner another victim in this elaborate scheme.

For Triple Express Trucking, what should have been a profitable job turned into a financial nightmare. Both Triple Express Trucking and 7C Logistic Services, LLC are now out more than $800,000 combined as the two companies join a growing list of businesses affected by equipment theft in the oil industry.

Stamper, meanwhile, is facing a slew of charges, including six counts of criminal damage to property, six counts of larceny and one conspiracy charge.

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Protecting your business

The oil industry has long been a target for thieves. With oil field equipment often located in remote areas with minimal security, criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their operations.

For businesses in the transport industry, this case serves as a stark warning about the importance of verifying the legitimacy of clients and cargo. Here are a few tips for transporting high-value items that could protect you from unwillingly participating in a crime.

1. Verify ownership documentation before transporting high-value equipment.
2. Conduct background checks on new clients, especially for high-value jobs.
3. Be wary of urgent jobs requiring night transportation of valuable equipment.
4. Document all aspects of unusual transportation requests.
5. Check with local authorities when transporting regulated equipment across state lines.

Additionally, businesses would be well advised to trust their instincts. If something seems unusual about a job, it’s worth taking extra steps to verify the legitimacy of the client and the cargo.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.