Introduction
A Utah couple, James Lael Jensen and his wife Kelly Anne Jensen, was arrested this week, according to local news source KSL-TV5, accused of smuggling crude oil illegally from Mexico to the United States. The operation, valued at $300 million, was detected following a coordinated raid by federal agents across multiple states.
Arrest and Seizure of Assets
The Jensens were apprehended in their 26,893 square-foot mansion in Sandy, Utah, valued at $9.1 million. Local reports indicate that the fugitive apprehension team used a battering ram to enter the property.
According to judicial documents from the Utah District Court, James, Kelly, and their children Max and Zachary Jensen are charged with conspiracy to illegally smuggle 2,881 shipments of oil from Mexico. The proceeds from the illegal oil sales were directed to businesses operated by Mexican criminal organizations.
Authorities claim that James Jensen was fully aware that his transactions benefited these criminal groups. The alleged money laundering and illegal import scheme began in May 2022.
On the same day as the arrests, federal agents raided Arroyo Terminals, the family’s company located in Rio Hondo, Texas, near the Mexico border. The company’s website was subsequently taken down.
The court ordered the seizure of all assets linked to the smuggling profits, including Arroyo Terminals’ headquarters, another residence in Draper, bank accounts, oil tankers, and new vehicles, totaling $300 million.
Investigations are ongoing, and further arrests or additional charges are expected in the coming days.
Connections to Mexican Criminal Organizations
The Jensen family’s alleged involvement with Mexican criminal organizations highlights the growing concern of transnational crime networks expanding their operations into the United States. James Jensen’s knowledge and participation in funneling profits to these groups demonstrate the complexity of combating such criminal enterprises.
The seizure of Arroyo Terminals and the Jensens’ assets sends a clear message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated, and law enforcement agencies are committed to dismantling these criminal networks.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the individuals arrested? James Lael Jensen and his wife Kelly Anne Jensen from Utah.
- What are they accused of? Smuggling $300 million worth of crude oil illegally from Mexico to the United States.
- How were they caught? They were arrested in their Sandy, Utah mansion during a coordinated raid by federal agents.
- What is the connection to Mexican criminal organizations? The proceeds from the illegal oil sales were directed to businesses operated by Mexican criminal organizations, with James Jensen allegedly aware of and participating in these transactions.
- What assets were seized? Arroyo Terminals headquarters, another residence in Draper, bank accounts, oil tankers, and new vehicles, totaling $300 million.
