Two Indians Convicted For Multimillion Dollar Cargo Thefts In SoCal Using Trucking Firms
Photo: DoJ
India-West News Desk
LOS ANGELES, CA -A US jury has convicted two Indian nationals for their roles in a cargo theft conspiracy that involved fraudulently obtaining shipping contracts, stealing freight worth millions of dollars and failing to deliver the consignments to their intended destinations, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Arshpreet Singh, 28, of Sacramento, and Vikramjeet Singh, 31, of Fontana, were convicted after a seven-day trial of one count each of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate or foreign shipments. The jury also convicted Arshpreet Singh of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while Vikramjeet Singh was acquitted of that charge.
According to evidence presented at trial, Arshpreet Singh and his co-conspirators operated the scheme between March 2024 and June 2025 by purchasing or fraudulently using legitimate trucking companies to bid for authentic freight contracts.
After securing the contracts, the conspirators allegedly took possession of cargo shipments but failed to deliver them to their destinations, instead stealing the goods.
Prosecutors said the stolen freight largely consisted of high-value consumer products, including televisions, laptops, household appliances and other electronics. Other items included vacuum cleaners, LED lights, footwear and tires.
Authorities estimated losses from the thefts at no less than $2 million.
The thefts took place at multiple locations in Southern California, including Fontana, Vernon, Santa Fe Springs, Perris, City of Industry, Long Beach, Compton, Commerce, Pico Rivera, Chino and Moreno Valley. Investigators also linked the scheme to activity in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Court records showed that the accused acquired established trucking companies to facilitate the operation.
In one instance cited during the trial, Arshpreet Singh met in March 2024 with the owner of Texas-based carrier Z&F Transportation LLC and agreed to purchase the company for approximately $22,000. Later that month, a co-conspirator acting on behalf of Z&F Transportation LLC collected a shipment of televisions in Fontana. The cargo was never delivered to its intended destination in Florida.
Prosecutors further alleged that in May 2024, co-conspirators purchased another carrier, Skyways Trucking LLC, and subsequently used it to steal shipments that included laptops, televisions, solar panels and other merchandise.
The conspirators allegedly booked freight loads through brokers, including Uber Freight, collected the consignments and then failed to transport them to the customers.
US District Judge Anne Hwang has scheduled sentencing hearings for January 20, 2027.
Arshpreet Singh faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while Vikramjeet Singh faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
