Former Bush aide helped in oil convictions

HOUSTON, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A former Bush administration aide helped convict three oil company officials in a stolen fuel case, the San Antonio (Texas) Express-News reported Sunday.

The newspaper said it learned through records and interviews that Josh Crescenzi of Houston helped U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents secretly record conversations that resulted in the convictions of the three U.S. executives on charges of buying petroleum condensate stolen by drug cartel enforcers from the Mexican oil giant Petroleos Mexicanos.

The investigation is likely to lead to charges against others, the newspaper said.

The Express-News said Crescenzi, formerly vice president for Continental Fuels Inc. of San Antonio, at one time was a news advance representative for Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Arnoldo Maldonado, president of Y Oil and Gas in Edinburg, Texas, Donald Schroeder, former president of Trammo Petroleum of Houston, and Jonathan Dappen of Petro Salum all reportedly pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.

No charges have been filed against Crescenzi, who refused to comment to the newspaper, and neither the former president or vice president are implicated, the Express-News said.

Crescenzi once worked for lobbyist Stephen Payne, who last year resigned from a Department of Homeland Security advisory council when a reporter recorded him offering access to Cheney and then-Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for a $250,000 "donation" to the George W. Bush Presidential Library, the News-Express said.