Sec Form 4 Filing - Carlson Chris @ Vertex Energy Inc. - 2018-06-30

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Carlson Chris 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Vertex Energy Inc. [ VTNR] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CFO & Secretary (Last) (First) (Middle) 1331 GEMINI STREET, SUITE 250 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 06/30/2018 (Street) HOUSTON, TX77058 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 09/30/2018 A( 1 ) 571 A 772,906 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Series B1 Preferred Stock $ 1.56 06/30/2018 J( 2 ) 831 06/30/2018( 3 ) ( 4 ) Common Stock 831 ( 2 ) 37,760 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Carlson Chris 1331 GEMINI STREET SUITE 250 HOUSTON, TX77058 CFO & Secretary Signatures /s/ Chris Carlson 10/12/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 ). Mr. Carlson was issued 571 shares of common stock effective on September 30, 2018, in lieu of $885 of dividends which accrued on Series B1 Preferred Stock shares held by Mr. Carlson. The terms of the Series B1 Preferred Stock are described in greater detail in the Current Report filed by the Issuer on May 13, 2016. Exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d). ( 2 )Mr. Carlson was issued 813 shares of Series B1 Preferred Stock in-kind effective on June 30, 2018, in lieu of $1,269 of dividends which accrued on Series B1 Preferred Stock shares held by Mr. Carlson. The terms of the Series B1 Preferred Stock are described in greater detail in the Current Report filed by the Issuer on May 13, 2016. Exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d). ( 3 )The Series B1 Preferred Stock (including accrued and unpaid dividends) is convertible into shares of the Issuer's common stock at the holder's option at any time at the Unit Price (initially a one-for-one basis). If the Issuer's common stock trades at or above $3.90 per share (250% of the Unit Price) for a period of 20 consecutive trading days at any time following the earlier of (a) the effective date of a resale registration statement the Issuer is required to file to register the underlying shares of common stock, or (b) November 13, 2016, the Issuer may at such time force conversion of the Series B1 Preferred Stock (including accrued and unpaid dividends) into common stock of the Issuer. ( 4 )The Series B1 Preferred Stock has no expiration date; however, the Issuer has the option to redeem the Series B1 Preferred Stock at 110% of the Unit Price ($1.56) plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on such Series B1 Preferred Stock redeemed, at any time beginning on June 20, 2017 and the Issuer is required to redeem the Series B1 Preferred Stock at the Unit Price plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on June 24, 2020.

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