A Los Angeles federal jury on Sept. 29 convicted Arshpreet Singh and Vikramjeet Singh in a conspiracy that prosecutors say used legitimate trucking firms and real freight contracts to divert shipments worth at least $2 million. The scheme involved purchasing or fraudulently controlling carriers such as Z&F Transportation and Skyways Trucking and rerouting loads of electronics, appliances and other goods. Both men were convicted of theft conspiracy; Arshpreet was also convicted of wire-fraud conspiracy. Sentencing is set for Jan. 20, 2027.
Two Men Convicted After Using Legitimate Trucking Firms To Divert Millions In Cargo
Image Credit: Central District of California.
A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted Arshpreet Singh and Vikramjeet Singh on Sept. 29 for their roles in a conspiracy that prosecutors say diverted high-value shipments worth at least $2 million. Rather than breaking into warehouses or hijacking trucks, the group used real trucking companies and authentic freight contracts to take possession of cargo and reroute it through illicit channels.
How The Scheme Worked
From March 2024 through June 2025, the defendants and co-conspirators acquired or fraudulently took control of established carriers and used them to bid on legitimate freight jobs. Once a broker accepted a bid, drivers operating under apparent lawful authority picked up loads as part of normal commercial transactions, then diverted the shipments instead of delivering them to their intended destinations.
Illustrative Examples
Prosecutors presented several examples at trial. In March 2024, Arshpreet Singh purchased Z&F Transportation LLC, a Texas carrier, for roughly $22,000. Later that month, a Z&F-affiliated driver collected a load of televisions in Fontana bound for Florida that never arrived at its destination.
In May 2024, co-conspirators purchased Skyways Trucking LLC and used that carrier to collect loads of laptops, televisions, solar panels and other goods that were subsequently diverted.
Scope Of The Investigation
Federal prosecutors linked thefts to numerous Southern California locations, including Fontana, Vernon, Santa Fe Springs, Perris, City of Industry, Long Beach, Compton, Commerce, Pico Rivera, Chino and Moreno Valley, and identified related activity routed through Grand Prairie, Texas. Law enforcement described a broader, multi-year inquiry tracing suspicious conduct back to March 2021.
Prosecutors said stolen merchandise — televisions, laptops, appliances, solar panels, shoes and tires — was moved through intermediaries or black-market channels after diversion.
Charges, Verdicts And Sentencing
The Central District of California lists the prosecution as United States v. Arshpreet Singh et al., CR 25-0804-AH, before U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang. Pretrial filings named five defendants and two counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit theft from interstate or foreign shipments.
The jury convicted both Arshpreet Singh and Vikramjeet Singh of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate or foreign shipments. Arshpreet Singh was also convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; Vikramjeet Singh was acquitted on the wire-fraud count. Court records showed Arshpreet in custody before trial and Vikramjeet released on bond.
Judge Hwang set sentencing for both defendants on Jan. 20, 2027. Based on the convictions, Arshpreet faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison; Vikramjeet faces a maximum of 5 years. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Chang (Transnational Organized Crime Section) and Lloyd Masson (General Crimes Section) are prosecuting the case.
Agencies Involved
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI's Inland Violent Crime Suppression Task Force, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Fontana Police Department, sheriff's departments from San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties, and Fort Worth Police.
Bottom line: Prosecutors say the defendants disguised thefts behind legitimate logistics operations, turning ordinary freight transactions into a vehicle for large-scale cargo theft.
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