Federal prosecutors have charged eight individuals in connection with an alleged international cargo theft conspiracy that targeted high-value merchandise across multiple states.
Charges and Defendants
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI announced the indictment of eight defendants: Vagan Gulian, Zhirayr Gumruyan, Sevak Kocharian, Araik Setrakian, Vitaly Koshelan, Arkadiy Pastin, Jashanpreet Singh, and Edgar Bezhanian. Authorities allege the defendants were part of an organized network that stole merchandise and resold the goods, causing losses to sellers, shippers, and buyers.
Scope of the Alleged Operation
According to court documents, the scheme involved the theft and interstate transport of stolen property. Among those charged are two Brooklyn residents, Sevak Kocharian and Arkadiy Pastin, and New Jersey resident Jashanpreet Singh. Prosecutors described the operation as international in scope, with merchandise allegedly moved and resold through coordinated efforts across state and national lines.
Related Cargo Theft Recoveries
In a separate incident, Cook County Sheriff’s investigators in Illinois recovered two stolen trailers containing more than $1.3 million in data center equipment at a suburban Chicago truck yard. The trailers, reported stolen from Alabama and Florida, held approximately $300,000 in copper wire and $1 million in additional equipment. Authorities noted that specialized high-value cargo such as data center components remains a frequent target for theft operations.