SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Cowart Benjamin P

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

1331 GEMINI STREET

(Street)

HOUSTON

77058

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/16/2009

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Vertex Energy Inc. [ VTNR.OB ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	CEO and President

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	4,679,488	D
Common Stock	55,311	I	Through Control of VTX, Inc.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/01/2011	Common Stock	14,176	$15	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/05/2014	Common Stock	5,671	$27	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	04/18/2015	Common Stock	22,681	$27	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/02/2015	Common Stock	2,834	$27	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	12/21/2014	Common Stock	396	$37	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/01/2015	Common Stock	19,279	$22.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	12/23/2015	Common Stock	16,443	$27	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/04/2016	Common Stock	2,833	$20.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	01/17/2017	Common Stock	11,338	$15.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	03/02/2017	Common Stock	7,087	$11.1	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	03/20/2017	Common Stock	2,833	$11.1	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/21/2017	Common Stock	160,237	$14.2	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	02/26/2018	Common Stock	82,215	$1.55	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	01/01/2011	Common Stock	708	$10	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	03/27/2011	Common Stock	4,535	$12.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	08/24/2011	Common Stock	9,139	$15	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	03/15/2012	Common Stock	8,739	$25	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	04/28/2012	Common Stock	936	$25	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/01/2010	Common Stock	9,107	$25	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	04/28/2010	Common Stock	57,772	$27.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/25/2011	Common Stock	76,390	$27.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/30/2011	Common Stock	140,508	$27.5	D
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/01/2011	Common Stock	168	$15	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/05/2014	Common Stock	67	$27	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	04/18/2015	Common Stock	268	$27	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	05/02/2015	Common Stock	34	$27	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	12/21/2014	Common Stock	5	$37	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/01/2015	Common Stock	228	$22.5	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	12/23/2015	Common Stock	194	$27	I	Through Control of VTX
Stock Warrants	04/16/2009	11/04/2016	Common Stock	2,833	$27	D

Explanation of Responses:

	/s/ Benjamin P. Cowart	05/15/2009
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.