Sec Form 4 Filing - Stratton Christopher Allen @ Vertex Energy Inc. - 2023-03-16

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 Stratton Christopher Allen 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Vertex Energy Inc. [ VTNR] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 1331 GEMINI STREET, SUITE 250 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 03/16/2023 (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 03/16/2023 M( 1 ) 60,000 A $ 1.26 126,913 D Common Stock 03/16/2023 F( 1 ) 9,193 D $ 8.22 117,720 D Common Stock 03/16/2023 M( 2 ) 45,000 A $ 1.45 162,720 D Common Stock 03/16/2023 F( 2 ) 7,934 D $ 8.22 154,786 D Common Stock 03/16/2023 M( 3 ) 15,000 A $ 1.92 169,786 D Common Stock 03/16/2023 F( 3 ) 3,502 D $ 8.22 166,284 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 Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 1.26 03/16/2023 M 60,000 ( 4 ) 12/13/2026 Common Stock 60,000 $ 0 0 D Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 1.45 03/16/2023 M 45,000 ( 5 ) 05/20/2029 Common Stock 45,000 $ 0 15,000 ( 7 ) D Option to Purchase Common Stock $ 1.92 03/16/2023 M 15,000 ( 6 ) 05/14/2031 Common Stock 15,000 $ 0 45,000 ( 8 ) D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Stratton Christopher Allen 1331 GEMINI STREET SUITE 250 HOUSTON, TX77058 X Signatures /s/ Christopher Allen Stratton 03/23/2023 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Represents a "net exercise" of outstanding stock options. The reporting person received 50,807 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of options to purchase 60,000 shares of common stock. The Company withheld 9,193 shares of common stock underlying the portion of the option exercised for payment of the exercise price, using the fair market value on March 16, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option agreement. ( 2 )Represents a "net exercise" of outstanding stock options. The reporting person received 37,066 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of options to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock. The Company withheld 7,934 shares of common stock underlying the portion of the option exercised for payment of the exercise price, using the fair market value on March 16, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option agreement. ( 3 )Represents a "net exercise" of outstanding stock options. The reporting person received 11,498 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock. The Company withheld 3,502 shares of common stock underlying the portion of the option exercised for payment of the exercise price, using the fair market value on March 16, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option agreement. ( 4 )A total of 15,000 of the options vested on each of December 13, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. ( 5 )A total of 15,000 of the options vested on each of May 20, 2020, 2021 and 2022. ( 6 )The 15,000 options vested on May 14, 2022. ( 7 )These options vest on May 20, 2023, subject to the Reporting Person's continued service to the Issuer on such date. ( 8 )These options vest at the rate of 15,000 of such options on each of May 14, 2023, 2024 and 2025, subject to the Reporting Person's continued service to the Issuer on such dates.

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 4(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).

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