You might not think used cooking oil would be a valuable commodity — but refined into biodiesel fuel, it sells for up to five dollars a gallon. That’s why six men, three from Pittsford and three from New York City, conspired to steal used oil from area restaurants around Monroe County and ship it to a biodiesel refinery in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Federal prosecutors say deputies watched the men truck the oil to a warehouse on Commerce Drive in Rochester. A search turned up more than $73,000 worth of used oil and records showing $60,000 more had been shipped to Erie.
All the suspects were in federal court Friday and released on conditions.