Key Points:
- 13 individuals tied to an Armenian crime ring were charged in a massive $83 million cargo theft targeting Amazon.
- The suspects used fake transport companies to pose as truck drivers and reroute merchandise.
- Amazon collaborated with the DOJ by providing data and account details tied to the suspects.
- The defendants face additional charges, including attempted murder, kidnapping, and healthcare fraud.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 13 individuals associated with an Armenian organized crime ring for orchestrating a large-scale cargo theft operation targeting Amazon, stealing more than $83 million worth of goods.
According to the DOJ complaint, since at least 2021, group members posed as legitimate truck drivers across California, using fake transport companies to steal merchandise en route to Amazon facilities. Stolen items ranged from smart TVs and SharkNinja vacuums to GE icemakers and Weber grills.
The accused fraudsters allegedly created fake transport carriers — AK Transportation, NBA Holdings, Belman Transport, and Markos Transportation — and used Amazon Relay, the company’s freight assignment platform, to secure delivery contracts. Instead of completing deliveries, the drivers diverted trucks, removed portions of the goods, and resold or distributed them among associates.
In some cases, the fake carriers would deliver the remaining goods days late, presumably to avoid suspicion. Investigators recovered photos and videos from seized iPhones showing warehouses stocked with stolen items, including Keurig machines, crockpots, and keratin shampoo.
The DOJ also linked the defendants to violent and financial crimes, including attempted murder, kidnapping, firearm violations, and healthcare fraud. Several accused are scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles court, while another appeared in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was detained.
Amazon has reportedly worked closely with investigators, providing detailed records on the stolen shipments and the accounts associated with the suspects. The retail giant has been grappling with increasing cargo theft, which the DOJ says is now a recurring issue. Experts estimate that cargo theft in the U.S. results in nearly $1 billion in losses annually, affecting major retailers beyond Amazon.
