2 Missouri men plead guilty in cooking oil theft ring

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Two men from Joplin, Missouri, have pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme that sold cooking oil stolen from restaurants in five states.

Neal Robbins pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to money laundering. Another man, Virgil Bird, pleaded guilty to the same charge Jan. 14.

Prosecutors say the scheme involved stealing cooking oil to sell to a recycling business in Oklahoma.

A third man, Brian Fleming, of Mountain Grove, admitted taking the oil to Oklahoma. He pleaded guilty in November.

Prosecutors say the three men trained and helped others steal the used cooking oil from restaurants.

They were arrested as part of an undercover operation.

Sentencing dates for the three men have not been set.