A business owner from Oklahoma was arrested this week after authorities say he led a scheme to steal oilfield equipment worth more than $2 million across New Mexico and Texas.
The big picture: Jonathan Allen Stamper, 41, owner of Stampede Lift Solutions, was taken into custody in Norman, Oklahoma on June 9, 2025. He's facing several felony charges including larceny, conspiracy, and criminal damage to property out of Lea and Eddy counties in New Mexico.
- The investigation began back on November 14, 2024, when Saguaro Petroleum reported five pumpjacks missing from federal well sites. Oil production was stopped, and losses topped $1 million.
- Shortly after, Southwest Royalties Inc. said six more pumpjacks disappeared from the same field. Their losses also went over $1 million.
- Authorities say Stamper set up the transport of eleven stolen pumpjacks using a third-party trucking company. The equipment was then sold off or sent to his own business.
Trucking fallout: The scam also hit the trucking world hard. At least one transportation and broker company reported more than $800,000 in damages and had to shut down. Affected trucking firms include 7C Logistic Services, LLC and Triple Express Trucking.
The stolen equipment was tracked across state lines, and law enforcement managed to recover nine out of the eleven missing pumpjacks, worth an estimated $2 million.
As of now, the investigation is still active, and authorities are asking anyone with information to reach out to the Lea County Sheriff’s Office.