A Nebraska traffic stop uncovered more than $250,000 in stolen copper inside a semi-truck on October 7. Lancaster County’s Criminal Interdiction Unit stopped the vehicle around 2 p.m. on Interstate 80. Deputies saw the trailer leaning heavily after the load shifted toward the passenger side. The driver could not provide vehicle registration, a bill of lading or basic freight details.
Authorities identified the driver as 22-year-old Raman Pal of Tracy, California. Pal could not explain what he hauled, where pickup occurred or the destination. Deputies received consent to search the truck and trailer. Inside, they found 11 pallets of copper wire weighing 43,937 pounds and two bolt cutters.
Copper load had passed Iowa destination
Deputies found a bill of lading during the vehicle search. It listed Imperial Metal Group in Chicago as the pickup location. Court records identify Imperial Metal Group as the owner of the stolen copper. Lakeside Auto Recyclers, a Carter Lake, Iowa, recycling company, was the listed destination.
Investigators stopped Pal near Lincoln after the truck had already passed Carter Lake. Lakeside Auto Recyclers confirmed the vehicle was off route while traveling westbound. The affidavit does not explain why Pal continued beyond the listed destination.
The affidavit states Get There Real Quick LLC should have delivered the shipment. FMCSA records list the Illinois carrier under USDOT 4381300 and MC 1717529. Get There Real Quick operates interstate with six power units and 10 drivers. Lakeside Auto Recyclers told deputies Nawab Xpress Inc. should not possess the load.
Pal’s truck displayed Nawab Xpress and USDOT 4172559. FMCSA records list the California company as an interstate carrier. Nawab Xpress operates with one power unit and one driver. The affidavit does not explain how Nawab Xpress obtained the shipment.
Investigators contacted Imperial Metal Group President Zach Spellman during the stop. Spellman confirmed the copper belonged to his company. He told deputies the shipment was stolen because the correct carrier did not possess it. The trailer also lacked the load lock and seal Imperial required.
Spellman told investigators this was Imperial Metal Group’s fourth stolen metal load this year. He said all four disappeared “in the same fashion.” The combined value exceeded $1 million, according to the sheriff’s briefing. Records do not establish whether the same people handled those losses.
Investigation could extend nationwide
Court records show prosecutors charged Pal with criminal impersonation and theft by unlawful taking over $5,000. The complaint identifies the stolen property as belonging to The Imperial Group LLC. Deputies also found two identification cards carrying different names inside the cab. One matched Pal’s actual California identification, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit does not identify a freight broker or explain how Pal obtained the shipment in Chicago. It also does not describe a fictitious pickup or name any federal agency involved. Deputies placed the truck and trailer on a criminal hold after Pal’s arrest. Investigators continue working to determine how the load changed hands.
FreightWaves contacted the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Imperial Group and Lakeside Auto Recyclers for additional information. None had responded before publication. Investigators have not established whether the same people were involved in Imperial Metal Group’s four thefts. “There’s a lot more people involved in this than just the 22-year-old,” the sheriff’s office told reporters.
Why it matters
The case shows how a high-value load can leave the proper carrier’s control and keep moving without immediate detection. That gap can turn a single pickup failure into a six-figure cargo loss before anyone realizes the shipment is off course.
CFCO
In my opinion, Certified Fraud Compliance Officer training can help teams catch carrier, driver and document mismatches before releasing a load. A repeatable verification process creates another checkpoint before high-value freight leaves the shipper’s control.
Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.
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