Nebraska Deputies Recover $250K Stolen Copper Shipment Beyond Iowa
Nebraska deputies recover $250,000 stolen copper load 50 miles past Iowa destination
A Nebraska traffic stop led to the recovery of more than $250,000 worth of stolen copper after deputies found a heavily shifted load in a semitrailer traveling west on Interstate 80.
Lancaster County’s Criminal Interdiction Unit stopped the truck at about 2 p.m. Oct. 7 near Lincoln. Deputies said the trailer was leaning significantly toward the passenger side, indicating that the cargo had shifted. The driver also was unable to provide vehicle registration, a bill of lading or basic information about the freight.
Authorities identified the driver as 22-year-old Raman Pal of Tracy, California. According to court documents, Pal could not explain what he was hauling, where the shipment had been picked up or where it was supposed to be delivered. He consented to a search of the truck and trailer.
Inside, deputies found 11 pallets of copper wire weighing 43,937 pounds. They also found two bolt cutters. The copper was valued at more than $250,000, according to investigators.
The shipment had already passed its listed destination
During the search, deputies located a bill of lading identifying Imperial Metal Group in Chicago as the pickup location. Court records identify the company as the owner of the copper. The listed destination was Lakeside Auto Recyclers in Carter Lake, Iowa.
The truck was stopped near Lincoln after it had passed Carter Lake while continuing westbound. Lakeside Auto Recyclers confirmed to investigators that the truck was off route. The affidavit does not explain why the vehicle continued beyond the listed destination.
Investigators also found a mismatch involving the carriers connected to the shipment. The affidavit states that Get There Real Quick LLC was supposed to deliver the load. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records list the Illinois-based carrier under USDOT number 4381300 and MC number 1717529. The company operates interstate with six power units and 10 drivers.
However, the truck displayed the name and USDOT number of Nawab Xpress Inc., a California carrier listed in FMCSA records as an interstate motor carrier with one power unit and one driver. The affidavit does not explain how Nawab Xpress came into possession of the shipment or why its identification was displayed on the truck.
Lakeside Auto Recyclers told deputies that Nawab Xpress should not have had the copper load.
Missing security equipment raised additional concerns
Investigators contacted Imperial Metal Group President Zach Spellman during the stop. Spellman confirmed that the copper belonged to his company and said the shipment had been stolen because the authorized carrier was not in possession of it.
He also told investigators that the trailer was missing a load lock and seal required by Imperial Metal Group. Those security measures are intended to help keep cargo secured and provide evidence that a trailer has not been opened or transferred during transit.
Spellman said the shipment was the fourth stolen metal load involving Imperial Metal Group that year. He told deputies all four thefts occurred in the same manner, with the combined value exceeding $1 million, according to a sheriff’s office briefing. The available records do not establish whether the same individuals were involved in the other losses.
Driver faces charges as investigation continues
Court records show that prosecutors charged Pal with criminal impersonation and theft by unlawful taking over $5,000. Deputies also found two identification cards with different names inside the truck cab. The affidavit states that one of the cards matched Pal’s California identification.
The truck and trailer were placed on a criminal hold after Pal’s arrest. Investigators are continuing to determine how the copper changed hands after it was picked up in Chicago and how the shipment came to be associated with a different carrier than the one listed for delivery.
The affidavit does not identify a freight broker involved in the shipment, explain how Pal obtained the load or describe a fictitious pickup. It also does not identify any federal agency as participating in the investigation.
The case highlights the risks created when a high-value load moves without consistent carrier, driver and documentation information. In this instance, the shipment was associated with one carrier, transported in a truck displaying another carrier’s information and continued beyond the listed destination. Deputies also found missing load-security equipment and conflicting identification documents.
The investigation remains active, and the charges against Pal are allegations. Court records do not establish whether additional people or companies will face charges in connection with the stolen copper.
