(WNY News Now) – A federal grand jury has charged six individuals with a scheme to steal used restaurant cooking oil, a commodity in demand for biodiesel fuel production, in a multi-state operation.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Six men are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to steal and resell used cooking oil, a material commonly refined into biodiesel fuel. The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, accuses Guodeng Chen, Didi Huang, and Fangfang Yan of Pittsford, N.Y., along with Ruimao Yang, Yan Han, and Wen Xiao Zhang of New York City, of conspiracy to transport and sell stolen goods across state lines.

If convicted, the conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Chen, Huang, and Yan face additional charges for the transportation and sale of stolen goods, which could result in up to 10 years in prison.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, the defendants orchestrated thefts of used cooking oil from restaurants in Monroe County and beyond. This oil, valued at $4 to $5 per gallon when refined, was collected by Zhang, who reportedly siphoned it from outdoor collection tanks. Yang, Han, and Zhang transported the stolen oil to a warehouse managed by Chen, Huang, and Yan, where it was stored and later sold to a broker.

The investigation revealed that on two occasions in April 2022, the defendants shipped approximately 45,000 pounds of stolen cooking oil from Monroe County to a Pennsylvania refinery, earning over $5,000 for each shipment.

The indictment follows a collaborative investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. Authorities emphasize that the charges are accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.