Posted on 05/13/2025 7:12:00 AM PDT by Red Badger
Federal agents have arrested Utah oil magnate James Lael Jensen, his wife Kelly Anne Jensen, and two of their sons, Maxwell Sterling Jensen (aka “Max”) and Zachary Golden Jensen, in connection with a sprawling $300 MILLION smuggling and money laundering conspiracy tied to Mexican criminal organizations.
Court records reveal that all four members of the Jensen family were arrested on Wednesday, April 23 — with sons Max and Zachary taken into custody in the Rio Grande Valley, while James and Kelly Jensen were apprehended at their 26,893-square-foot mansion in Sandy, Utah, reportedly worth over $9.1 million.
The arrest was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Team, equipped with a battering ram and tactical gear, according to KSLTV.
“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,” a warrant filed for James Jensen’s arrest states.
“The payments for this crude oil were directed to businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of Mexican criminal organization. James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to these Mexican criminal organizations.”
According to KRGV, ” Federal court records say that they have been ordered to report to the Brownsville federal courthouse by Thursday, May 8, where their sons have already made their initial court appearance.”
WATCH:
VIDEO AT LINK.................
According to an unsealed federal indictment reviewed by The Gateway Pundit dated April 17, the Jensens ran a complex scheme to fraudulently import and disguise crude oil shipments—nearly 3,000 in total—falsely declaring them as waste oils or petroleum distillates to evade customs regulations under the U.S. Tariff Act.
Prosecutors allege that the Jensens’ operation involved elaborate financial transactions designed to “conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds,” including high-dollar purchases of vehicles and properties using illicit funds.
The Jensens are now facing a five-count federal indictment:
* Count One: All four family members are charged with conspiracy to launder money derived from smuggling operations.
* Counts Two and Three: James and Max Jensen are accused of aiding and abetting the smuggling of merchandise and using false documentation to deceive customs authorities.
* Counts Four and Five: Both James and Kelly Jensen allegedly spent proceeds of the illegal activity on major purchases—such as cashier’s checks for high-end car dealerships.
Court records show the family entered not guilty pleas to the charges in federal court.
In one of the largest criminal forfeiture efforts of 2025 to date, prosecutors are moving to seize a jaw-dropping array of assets tied to the scheme, including:
* Four massive tank barges used for transporting the oil.
* Three luxury Peterbilt trucks.
* A 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and a 2024 GMC Sierra.
* A 12.69-acre estate in Rio Hondo, Texas, and the family’s $9.2 million mansion in Draper, Utah, previously featured in luxury real estate magazines.
* Bank accounts tied to Arroyo Terminals, LLC and Big Hog Energy, LLC, believed to be shell entities used to launder proceeds.
Magistrate Judge Karen Betancourt signed an order on May 6, 2025, allowing James and Kelly Jensen to post reduced appearance bonds—$200,000 for James and $100,000 for Kelly, each with a 10% cash deposit.
The couple, previously restricted in their movements, can now travel freely across the Southern and Western Districts of Texas to prepare their defense.
Their son, Maxwell Jensen, was also granted a $750,000 bond with a $75,000 deposit, paid on May 9, 2025.
If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison.
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Anyone surprised the President of Mexico refused Trump’s offer to take on the cartels?
This is just a few fish of many, but I wonder what the remaining fish are thinking these days?
What would you do?
Keep up the good work
to evade customs regulations under the U.S. Tariff Act.
BTTT
That’s lots of Magic Underwear.
I guess the LDS ain’t got no issues.
What say you Sen Lee?
old Man Mittens?
Or ya didn’t know . . .
Very medieval. And it easily could have been defeated by a drawbridge and a moat. The Jensens made a fatal mistake when they designed their home.
Why did they need a battering ram?
Rockefeller, with an evil grin, "Always a little more."
Why did they need a battering ram?
Maybe the curtain is being raised to reveal just a bit of the incredible corruption bought by the Mexican cartels.
I’m a little confused here. Was he supplying cartels or buying it from them? Was he simply avoiding import taxes?
It’s not clear.
Pounding the world
Like a battering ram
Forging the furnace
For the final grand slam
Chopping away at the source
Soon the course will be done
Leaving a trail of destruction
That’s second to none
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoA8OxjxSrw
Smuggling oil into teh US, calling it ‘industrial waste’ to avoid taxes.........
Why do we even care about this? Aren’t there racists or people praying in front of abortion clinics who we should be focusing on instead?
I am confused too.
Is there some tariff on Mexican oil or are they just not paying taxes on the proceeds or both?
They get the battering ram treatment but bail is only $30k?
Wondering if the left has started a gofundme fundraiser for their defense yet?
But they betrayed Americans so hang ‘em high!!
Flaunting only attracts attention.
Maybe it was 3AM and they didn't want to ring the bell.
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