Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, the defendants conspired to commit a series of thefts of used cooking oil, which can be refined into biodiesel fuel and re-sold for $4.00 to $5.00 per gallon, from numerous restaurants within and around Monroe County. Defendants Yang, Han, and Zhang drove trucks to restaurants and Zhang stole used cooking oil from oil collection tanks located outside of those restaurants. The defendants then delivered the stolen cooking oil to Chen, Huang, and Yan at a warehouse. Han worked in the warehouse and assisted in the collection and storage of the stolen cooking oil. Chen, Huang, and Yan subsequently sold the stolen cooking oil to a broker and caused the stolen cooking oil to be transported across state lines to a refinery located in Pennsylvania. On April 8 2022, Chen, Huang, and Yan caused approximately 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be transported from the Western District of New York to Erie, Pennsylvania, receiving more than $5,000 for the shipment. On April 28, 2022, Chen, Huang, and Yan caused another approximately 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to Erie, Pennsylvania, again receiving more than $5,000 for this shipment.