A fictitious warehouse pickup involving approximately $500,000 in SIG Sauer products led to two arrests in Southern California. The shipment contained firearm parts and accessories from SIG Sauer, a major manufacturer supplying civilian, law enforcement and military markets. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detectives recovered the entire shipment. Authorities returned all the stolen merchandise to its owner.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrests and cargo recovery on October 27, 2026. Investigators first received information about the theft on October 12. The incident involved a warehouse near the 4200 block of West 190th Street in Torrance, California. Detectives assigned to the department’s Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team (CCATS) investigated the case. The specialized unit operates within the sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau.
Torrance sits within one of the nation’s most active cargo theft regions. According to an Overhaul report examining cargo theft trends across Southern California, the surrounding 200-mile area accounted for 37% of reported U.S. incidents. Nearly 70% of regional thefts occurred within 50 miles of the city. Deceptive pickups represented 28% of cases in the region.
Authorities arrested Arman Mnatsakanyan, 26, and Ashot Yesayan, 23, both Glendale, California residents, on October 12. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department booking records confirm both arrests occurred that afternoon. Deputies booked the men on suspicion of grand theft cargo. Investigators plan to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration. Both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Inside the cargo theft investigation
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Division Chief Jose G. Mendoza highlighted the recovery in a statement, noting that “hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen gun parts were taken off the streets.” The Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team works alongside other specialized units targeting organized theft. LASD established its Organized Retail Crimes Task Force in September 2023. That operation includes cargo investigators and the Burglary and Robbery Task Force. Personnel collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, regional task forces and federal partners.
Questions remain about the fictitious pickup
LASD has not explained how the fictitious pickup occurred or identified the transportation provider. The department’s announcement also omitted details about shipping documents, equipment and the recovery location. Investigators have not disclosed how they tracked the stolen merchandise. FreightWaves contacted the Sheriff’s Department and SIG Sauer for additional information, but neither had responded by publication time.
Other California investigations have involved fraudulent pickups of commercial shipments. In one case, Montclair police investigated approximately $70,000 in stolen beer shipments involving fraudulent pickup documents. The incidents occurred at an Anheuser-Busch distribution center. Detectives identified discrepancies involving the trucking company, driver and vehicles.
A separate Southern California investigation exposed another method criminals used to obtain commercial freight. A Los Angeles jury convicted two defendants in a $2 million nationwide cargo theft scheme involving purchased trucking companies. The operation involved established motor carriers used to secure legitimate shipments. Prosecutors connected the defendants to cargo thefts across multiple states.
Why it matters
Fictitious pickups present a serious threat when warehouses release valuable freight without confirming the authorized transportation provider. This case highlights the importance of verifying pickup credentials before transferring custody of a shipment.
CFCO
Strategic theft often exploits the brief window before a shipment leaves the dock. Once freight changes hands, the opportunity to control who takes possession disappears. The Certified Fraud Compliance Officer (CFCO) program trains professionals to make that window count through independent carrier, driver and pickup verification. Confidence comes from verification, not assumptions.
Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.
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