21 people, including 5 from NC, indicted in connection with restaurant cooking oil ring

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Twenty-one people are facing charges in connection with a stolen cooking oil scheme.

Federal agents in the Eastern District of North Carolina say people traveled to restaurants in North Carolina and neighboring states to steal large quantities of cooking oil, including from the Whataburger in Kannapolis.

Federal agents said nearly two dozen restaurants in three states were affected in the operation.

Agents said the losses total about $4 million.

The oil has become a highly valuable recycled commodity over the past decade because of its value as a biofuel.

Some of the profits were used to purchase and operate the Maraka Night Club in Durham.

Mecklenburg County Director of Solid Waste Jeff Smithberger said it is an unusual and new crime.

“It wasn't on our radar even probably four or five years ago,” Smithberger said.

Prosecutors said the cooking oil from restaurants was used for biofuel or additives for animal feed or pet food.

Smithberger said restaurants need to make sure it's secure so those types of situations don't happen.

“Unfortunately, that is the case, because some folks have decided to be very entrepreneurial in an illegal manner and take it from those places that they shouldn't,” Smithberger said.

Five people who were charged are from North Carolina.

The others are from New York, Virginia, Turkey, El Salvador and Mexico.

Prosecutors say cooking oil thefts total $45 million to $75 million a year.

Charges include money laundering and conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods.

The suspects face up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

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