A truck driver followed instructions from someone impersonating a freight broker, placing more than $273,000 in frozen seafood at risk. The unauthorized diversion brought approximately 29,000 pounds of cargo to North Arlington, New Jersey, on October 3. Two individuals began moving pallets from a refrigerated tractor-trailer into a smaller box truck. Police arrived before the suspects could remove the shipment from the area.
North Arlington officers responded to Porete Avenue following a report of suspicious activity involving commercial freight. They discovered an active transfer between two vehicles at the location. The merchandise included frozen shrimp, salmon, conch meat and branzino. The cargo remained at the scene while investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the attempted theft.
Fraudulent calls and texts redirect the driver
According to the North Arlington Police Department, the truck driver received telephone calls and text messages before arriving. The sender falsely claimed an association with the legitimate freight broker responsible for the shipment. Those communications instructed the driver to divert part of the load for a supposed transfer. Following those directions brought the refrigerated trailer to an unauthorized location.
Jonathan Pollaguari, 18, of the Bronx, New York, arrived alongside a juvenile in a 26-foot box truck. Both individuals began transferring pallets of seafood into their vehicle. Questions about the transaction’s legitimacy emerged while the activity continued. A subsequent investigation established that the person directing the diversion had no affiliation with the actual brokerage.
Authorities determined that the unidentified individual impersonated a company representative to fraudulently obtain the merchandise. Officers secured the scene and stopped further movement of the products. Their intervention prevented the suspects from leaving with the cargo.
Police recover shipment and arrest two suspects
North Arlington officers took Pollaguari and the juvenile into custody without incident. Investigators recovered the entire seafood shipment before either suspect could leave the scene. Frozen shrimp accounted for the primary commodity, alongside several other varieties. Police documented the attempted theft and announced criminal charges following their investigation.
Authorities charged Pollaguari with second-degree theft by deception, false representation and conspiracy. He also faces a first-degree charge involving the employment of a juvenile in committing a crime. Officers issued additional motor vehicle summonses for driving without a license and operating an uninsured vehicle. Another citation involved failure to possess an insurance card.
Investigators have not disclosed how the suspects obtained shipment information or who coordinated the fraudulent communications. Authorities also have not identified the legitimate broker, carrier or shipper involved. Questions remain about what initially raised suspicion and prompted police intervention. The investigation remains active, with officials declining to release further details.
Why It Matters
Criminals impersonating trusted freight brokers can redirect high-value shipments without ever taking control of the truck. This case highlights why carriers must independently verify unexpected delivery changes before following instructions.
CFCO
In my opinion, this case demonstrates why verification cannot stop once a carrier accepts a load. The Certified Fraud Compliance Officer (CFCO) course teaches transportation professionals to recognize suspicious activity and challenge unexpected instructions. A legitimate driver can unknowingly participate in cargo theft when criminals impersonate trusted contacts. Training helps establish consistent procedures for confirming shipment changes before freight reaches the wrong hands.
Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.
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