What started off as a run-of-the-mill investigation into a series of boat title discrepancies, concluded this past summer with multiple felony charges against three individuals suspected of running an interstate theft ring and the recovery of over $275,000 worth of stolen watercraft and other vehicles. Sergeant Game Warden Jonathan Griffin of the Marine Theft Investigation Unit facilitated an impressive two-year investigation into the organized crime ring leading to a nomination for the Investigator of the Year Award by the International Association of Marine Investigators.

“Considering that this is an international award I am really humbled to have been nominated,” said Sergeant Griffin. “I am very grateful to the Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force and the other agencies across Texas, Alabama, and Florida who assisted with the resources necessary to build a strong case to hand over to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.”

Sergeant Griffin further explained that the case began with a tip from the La Marque Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Office regarding an individual titling numerous jet skis in their name at very low purchase prices. Eventually, a Florida county tax office notified the Sergeant that the suspect and a second individual were also titling a number of jet skis in Florida in the same manner.

Over the following months, the Marine Theft Investigation Unit worked to trace the jet skis that were bought and sold by the suspects. The investigators uncovered that the jet skis being titled were actually stolen throughout Texas and then sold across multiple gulf states with false titles and identification numbers. Their work then identified a third suspect who had participated in the activity.

“After recovering  27 stolen vessels and trailers, we filed charges and arrested the three suspects for theft and engaging in organized crime,” said Griffin. “While the charges are pending, we are working to locate and recover more stolen jet skis and boats that may have been sold using the same scheme.  It has been satisfying to be able to help get this property back to the rightful owners.”

The case is currently being handled by the Galveston County District Attorney’s office.

Source: tpwd

Many media reports beat the warning drums of a dire situation with the state’s natural gas production last weekend. That is incorrect.

The Railroad Commission’s objective is to help ensure there’s enough gas to protect Texas residents. Power stayed on, lights were on, and gas kept flowing to residences last weekend.

Yes, production can fluctuate on any given day at any given hour for various reasons. However, the RRC has not received any indications that production decreased anywhere near the extent that has been reported. During the weekend and after, major producers we contacted did not report any drastic disruptions of gas production.

We have looked at data, and according to S&P Global analysis, production on the Texas side of Permian was up 570 million cubic feet/day on Jan. 3, largely a function of a return to normal after a one-day decrease in production on Sunday. This volume accounts for 2% of Texas’ daily production. Sunday’s temporary drop did not have a real impact on the gas market or the grid.

Again, there was plenty of gas flowing to power generators and homes.

The sources used in some media reports utilized pipeline nominations – which are basically contracted requests for space in the pipeline system to transport gas – to estimate real-time gas production. That approach is speculative and does not paint a complete picture, especially given that gas trading markets were closed for the holiday weekend.

The Permian Basin also saw a recent acceleration in drilling and completion activities. Since the start of the fourth quarter of last year, Permian operators have added more than 30 rigs to the basin, bringing the total to an estimated 300 in the week ended Dec. 29. In November, the number of wells drilled surged to a 19-month high at 300. From August to November, well completions averaged more than 400 per month – the highest since first-quarter 2020, based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Production is just one piece of the puzzle to help gas flow to Texans and electrical power producers throughout the state. Gas storage plays a very important role, as well.

Processed, dry gas that is already in storage, ready to flow to homes and facilities, including power plants, is critical. It can lessen the impact of the potential gas market or production fluctuations. As of mid-December ahead of this winter season, the state had approximately 448 billion cubic feet of working gas already in underground storage.

A final point to note is that the first media outlet to claim significant problems from the cold weather, Bloomberg, has now revised some of its claims. Their early week article stated that nearly 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas had to be flared due to cold weather issues. But they have issued a correction that it was nearly 1 million cubic feet that were flared, a thousand-fold drop. One million cubic feet represents about 0.0035% of Texas production statewide.

Source: rrc

A member of a theft ring that cut catalytic converters out of dozens of City of Houston vehicles is a fugitive after failing to show up in court, and Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to his recapture, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Monday.

Brady Stanley, 26, was out on bond on four other felony charges, when he failed to appear in court on Dec. 20, 2021. Stanley is charged with engaging in organized criminal activity for his role in stealing and reselling catalytic converters with accomplices in incidents spanning April through November 2021.

The combined value of the 46 catalytic converters stolen from the city’s fleet in this case totals $36,800.

When Stanley didn’t show up in the 263^rd District Court, a judge forfeited his bond.

Catalytic converters are prized by thieves looking to sell the platinum and other precious metals they contain. Dozens of vehicles in the city’s fleet have been targeted, but Harris County residents also increasingly are finding the parts have been sawed from their cars and trucks.

Making matters worse, supply-chain woes related to the COVID-19 pandemic have depleted the availability of replacement parts, meaning that some vehicles are out of service for several weeks before they can be repaired.

“This property crime has plagued thousands of victims in our community as we are all already facing so many challenges, and it won’t be tolerated,” Ogg said. “Someone out there knows where this fugitive is hiding and now has an opportunity to not only do the right thing but get paid.”

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to Stanley’s return to custody. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Assistant District Attorney Shanice Newton is prosecuting the cases, which were investigated by the Houston Police Department.

To reduce the likelihood of having a catalytic converter stolen, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office recommends taking these preventive steps:

• Park in a garage or a well-lit area.
• Park close to fences, walls, or curbs and alongside cars to make the catalytic converter less accessible.
• Mark the converter by stamping or engraving the VIN or license plate number.
• Install a theft-prevention device, such as a lock or cover.
• Report thefts immediately and obtain as much information about the suspects as possible.