NEW YORK CITY — Authorities, including the Manhattan District Attorney and New York City Police Commissioner, announced the indictment of eight individuals for conspiring to impersonate shipping carriers in a wide-ranging retail theft ring throughout the northeast.
The announcement came via press release.
NYC officials say the defendants allegedly used fraudulently obtained shipment information of real shipping carriers and brokers, impersonated the legitimate companies, and stole nearly $5 million in goods from logistics sites in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey. The stolen goods were then diverted to New York City for sale on the black market. The defendants allegedly interacted with other criminal syndicates, who conducted phishing scams to hack and steal the shipment information.
“There is reason to believe that there are other incidents of this alleged conduct, and the investigation remains ongoing,” police say.
Verisk CargoNet, the transportation and cargo theft analytics division of Verisk, announced that it provided technology and support to law enforcement efforts tied to the case.
“This case highlights how cargo theft has become more coordinated and more deceptive,” said Ralph Pepe, senior intelligence analyst at Verisk CargoNet, who supported the investigation. “Criminal groups are investing more time in impersonation schemes—building credible identities and targeting specific shipments—rather than relying on opportunistic theft. Collaboration between industry stakeholders and law enforcement remains critical to identifying these patterns early, disrupting networks, and improving recovery outcomes.”
The defendants, Murodullo Khasanov, Nodir Kobilov, Shavkatbek Mamadjanov, Rakhmiddin Abdullev, Aleksey Vorobyev, Nizom Ismoilov, Doston Mardoev, and Dilshod Naviev are each charged with one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and varying counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. Other charges in the indictment include Grand Larceny in the First and Second Degrees and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First and Second Degrees.
“We allege these defendants operated a wide-ranging and brazen, multimillion-dollar interstate retail theft conspiracy that impacted businesses and consumers around the country,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “We believe that many small businesses were harmed by this theft, some of which may not be able to recover from their financial losses. Furthermore, the intersection of sophisticated online hacking and large-scale theft is deeply concerning and will only grow more prevalent, and we are using every tool available to stay ahead of this emerging trend.”
“These defendants allegedly ran a highly coordinated theft ring by illegally obtaining shipping information, impersonating legitimate trucking businesses, and using phishing schemes to steal millions of dollars in consumer goods – including everything from meat and cheese to copper and cigarettes,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Their operation exploited small businesses, disrupted supply chains, and pushed stolen goods onto the black market. Thanks to our tireless NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners, this scheme was shut down, and those responsible are being held accountable.”
Citing court documents and statements made on the record, police say the defendants operated the alleged conspiracy between October 2025 and April 2026. In total, the defendants allegedly committed six thefts and stole $165,000 worth of lamb; $432,000 worth of cheese; $295,000 worth of beef; more than $266,000 worth of copper; and more than $3.3 million of cigarettes.
The defendants allegedly received winning bids from hacker groups, coordinating through a shipping broker. They would then allegedly lease semi trucks and affix the name and registration number of the real shipping carrier that was supposed to make the pickup. They would then drive to the logistics center, pick up the goods and coordinate further shipment into and through Manhattan.
In November 2025, NODIR Kobilov allegedly drove a truck impersonating the carrier Z Mile Inc to pick up frozen lamb from a logistics center in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. He then met Khasavov, who escorted and supervised the transportation of the stolen goods through Manhattan into the Bronx. The lamb was intended to be delivered to Minnesota and Wyoming.
In December 2025, Mamadjanov allegedly drove a truck impersonating Altex Logistics Inc, to pick up cheese totaling 25,395 pounds in net weight, including parmesan, pecorino and Manchego, from a logistics center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The cheese was intended to be delivered to Georgia. In this particular instance, a shipping broker allegedly fell victim to a phishing attack from the hacking syndicate after they received an email they believed was from a trucking carrier they had frequently used. The broker then unknowingly sent the bid information to the hackers, who shared it with Khasavov. He then coordinated and supervised the theft with Mamadjanov.
That same month, Raabdullaev allegedly drove a truck impersonating Masters Trucking to pick up 39,600 pounds of beef in Darby Township, Pennsylvania. The beef was intended for Aurora, Colorado, but was instead diverted and transported into New York City. Similarly, the broker had unknowingly sent the bid information to a member of the criminal syndicate conducting the hacking, who eventually sent it to Khasanov. He then coordinated and supervised the theft with Abdullaev.
In February 2026, Mardoev allegedly drove a truck impersonating Viking Transport to pick up 43,100 pounds of copper rod from a logistics center in Newark, New Jersey. The stolen copper was allegedly driven back to the Bronx through Manhattan, before most of it was sold to “Scrap King,” in Brooklyn with the assistance of Khasanov, Vorobyev, and Ismoilov.
On two separate occasions in March 2026, under the supervision of Khasanov, Nabiev, Ismoilov and two other individuals allegedly drove trucks impersonating Preston Deliveries, LLC to CJ Logistics America in Colonial Heights, Virginia to pick up over $3.3 million in cigarettes, which were eventually brought to the Bronx through Manhattan. The cigarettes were intended for Tennessee and Florida. The stolen cigarettes were later recovered pursuant to a search warrant executed in the Bronx.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
