A cargo theft scheme used established trucking corporations to safe actual hundreds earlier than freight disappeared. Prosecutors tied the operation to at the very least $2 million in losses throughout the US. Excessive-value electronics, home equipment, photo voltaic panels, sneakers and tires grew to become targets in the course of the conspiracy. A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two males Tuesday for collaborating within the operation.
Arshpreet Singh, 28, of Sacramento, and Vikramjeet Singh, 31, of Fontana, California, participated within the scheme. Proof confirmed conspirators bought or fraudulently used actual carriers to bid on genuine transport contracts. After securing transportation jobs, individuals collected merchandise from warehouses however by no means accomplished the deliveries. The felony exercise coated March 2024 by means of June 2025, in line with federal prosecutors.
The stolen merchandise included televisions, laptops, vacuums, LED lights and different client items. Authorities additionally recognized home equipment, footwear and tires among the many lacking merchandise. Theft areas stretched all through Southern California and reached Grand Prairie, Texas. Prosecutors documented exercise in Fontana, Lengthy Seaside, Compton, Chino, Commerce and several other surrounding cities.
Established carriers grew to become a part of the scheme
One transaction exhibits how the operation gained entry to freight. Arshpreet Singh met the proprietor of Texas-based Z&F Transportation LLC throughout March 2024. He bought the established service for about $22,000, in line with trial proof. Later that month, a co-conspirator collected televisions in Fontana beneath the corporate’s title.
That cargo ought to have traveled from California to its meant vacation spot in Florida. As a substitute, the televisions by no means arrived, in line with the Justice Division. The transaction gave conspirators entry by means of an present transportation enterprise moderately than a newly created operation. Trial proof confirmed the group repeated that technique with one other service shortly afterward.
Co-conspirators bought Skyways Trucking LLC in Could 2024. They then used that enterprise to steal laptops, televisions, photo voltaic panels and extra merchandise. Individuals booked shipments by means of brokers together with Uber Freight earlier than taking possession of these hundreds. The freight by no means reached the locations listed on these transportation agreements.
Jury returns responsible verdicts
Jurors heard proof throughout a seven-day federal trial in Los Angeles. They convicted each defendants of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate or overseas shipments. Arshpreet Singh additionally obtained a responsible verdict for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Jurors acquitted Vikramjeet Singh on the separate wire fraud conspiracy depend.
U.S. District Choose Anne Hwang scheduled sentencing hearings for Jan. 20, 2027. Arshpreet Singh faces a statutory most of 20 years in federal jail. Vikramjeet Singh faces a statutory most sentence of 5 years. These figures characterize authorized maximums, not the jail phrases the court docket will essentially impose.
A number of companies investigated the case throughout California and Texas. Individuals included the FBI’s Inland Violent Crime Suppression Activity Power and IRS Legal Investigation. Native companions included police departments in Fontana and Fort Value, Texas. Sheriff’s departments from San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties additionally assisted investigators.
Why it issues
Cargo thieves don’t at all times want pretend corporations to succeed in worthwhile freight. This case exhibits how established service identities can present entry to reliable transport contracts and high-value hundreds.
Click on right here for extra articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Editor.
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