An international cargo theft crew has been busted for their roles in a “large-scale organized scheme” to steal millions.
On Tuesday, June 30, the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York announced a now unsealed indictment charging eight individuals with conspiracy to transport and possess stolen property in connection with an international, organized scheme to steal cargo from commercial shippers.
The eight individuals charged include:
- Edgar Bezhanian
- Vagan Gulian
- Zhirayr Gumruyan
- Sevak Kocharian
- Vitaly Koshelan
- Arkadiy Pastin
- Jashanpreet Singh
- Araik Setrakian
“Organized cargo theft is an attack on the integrity of our nation’s commercial supply chain and our markets more generally,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement. “Those who conspire to disrupt commerce and harm consumers will be met with a coordinated law enforcement response. Our office is committed to ridding our supply chains of organized crime, and we will pursue those who exploit global commerce for illicit gain.”
Prosecutors said the crew began operating in March 2023 and has since stolen at least $10 million in freight. Operating across the U.S., the crew is alleged to have targeted high-value merchandise including electronics, liquor, meat, fish, eggs, clothing, skincare products and cryptocurrency mining machines.
The cargo thefts were carried out by impersonating legitimate carriers and booking loads with false credentials. Then, another member of the crew would pick up the load or divert another truck from delivering it to its original destination.
“The defendants and other members of the cargo theft enterprise perpetrated their scheme by diverting, possessing, transporting, and selling numerous loads of stolen merchandise,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “The cargo theft enterprise relied on the coordinated efforts of at least one “dispatcher” located abroad and facilitators, drivers, and workers located in the United States.”
Each faces one count of conspiracy to transport and possess stolen merchandise, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted. Seven of the eight individuals charged are already in custody. Bezhanian remains at large. LL
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