Long-Haul Crime Log

Inside the investigation into a double-brokering scheme — Long-Haul Crime Log

A man, All State Association CEO Steve Avetyan, holding a Rolex watch in front of a white board.

Hundreds of trucking companies had been allegedly defrauded in an elaborate scheme utilizing a controversial practice called double brokering. After months of investigating, reporter Clarissa Hawes got a tip that led to a series of bizarre phone calls with the man who owned a freight brokerage at the center of the operation. 

“You’ve got a lot of angry people … trying to find out who is trying to find them, who is trying to hurt their kids, their families,” he told Hawes. 

The latest episode of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/inside-the-investigation-into-a-double-brokering-scheme-long-haul-crime-log

Small Fleet Summit: What happens when your truck is carrying drugs at border

Lawyer Su Ross during the FreightWaves Small Fleets and Owner-Operator Summit discussing drug seizures at the Border

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: What small fleets and owner-operators need to know when trucks get caught with drugs at the U.S. borders.

DETAILS: Drug seizures from commercial trucks have surged at the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico since 2020, when restrictions for nonessential travel took effect in response to COVID-19. The drivers themselves can face arrest and prosecution, while tractors and trailers can be seized for extended periods of time. But in some cases, the drivers are unaware of their...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/small-fleet-summit-what-happens-when-your-truck-is-carrying-drugs-at-border

Pilot fuel rebate scandal spurs unusual legal fight over racism — Long-Haul Crime Log

Trucks parked at a Pilot truck stock at night-time.

In April 2013, agents from the FBI and IRS raided the Knoxville headquarters of the largest truck stop chain in the United States: Pilot Flying J. It was part of a massive investigation into a fuel rebate scam. In all, 14 former Pilot employees pleaded guilty in what was known as “jacking the discount.”

Eight years later, the story is far from over as the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the convictions of former Pilot President Mark Hazelwood and two of his staffers, who are...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/pilot-fuel-rebate-scandal-spurs-unusual-legal-fight-over-racism-long-haul-crime-log

Mexican drug traffickers turned to trucks during pandemic — Long Haul Crime Log

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Laredo, Texas, saw drug traffickers switch to fewer but larger shipments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Commercial trucks became their vehicle of choice.

The latest episode of FreightWaves’ true-crime podcast, Long-Haul Crime Log, examines drug supply chains and what happens when there’s a capacity crunch for narcotics traffickers.

Agents said with the border being closed for nonessential travel since spring 2020, there were a lot less passenger cars...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mexican-drug-traffickers-turned-to-trucks-during-pandemic

Curious pot bust jams up 2 truckers — Long-Haul Crime Log

An aerial view of the Pembina U.S.-Canada border crossing, where two truck drivers were arrested.

Two Canadian truck drivers in their 20s are facing charges in North Dakota over a $4.5 million load of marijuana intercepted at the U.S.-Canada border. The latest episode of FreightWaves’ true-crime podcast, Long-Haul Crime Log, examines the case and why some aspects of it are unusual.

The drivers were arrested on April 23 after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered the marijuana while inspecting what was supposed to be a load of straw at the border in Pembina, North Dakota. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/curious-pot-bust-jams-up-2-truckers-long-haul-crime-log

How did truckers in kidnapping cases go free so easily? — Long-Haul Crime Log

Two trucks passing during the night to illustrate an article about podcast episode about two truckers charged with kidnapping.

It’s a troubling case: Two truck drivers accused of kidnapping women and then forcing them into prostitution or holding them for ransom. Yet somehow, suspects Brian T. Summerson, 25, and Pierre Washington, 35, were able to secure their own freedom relatively easily during two points of the investigation by the FBI. 

In the latest episode of FreightWaves’ true-crime podcast, Long-Haul Crime Log, co-host and investigative reporter Clarissa Hawes looks into the case and the uncomfortable questions...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-did-truckers-in-kidnapping-cases-go-free-so-easily-long-haul-crime-log

Behind allegations Mexican truckers are breaking US cabotage rules — Long-Haul Crime Log

Mexican trucks near the U.S- Mexico border.

This week’s episode of FreightWaves’ true-crime podcast, Long-Haul Crime Log, investigates one of the most controversial issues in cross-border trucking: cabotage violations. In the U.S., these occur when truckers based in Mexico or Canada illegally transport domestic freight. 

Co-host and FreightWaves reporter Noi Mahoney digs into recent allegations that truckers from Mexico are doing illegal runs within the U.S. and why it may be hurting the industry on both sides of the border.

Mexican truck...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/behind-allegations-mexican-truckers-are-breaking-us-cabotage-rules-long-haul-crime-log

Foreign truckers allege US job offers turned into human-trafficking scheme

Foreign drivers claim human-trafficking scheme after arriving in the U.S.

Lured by the promise of better pay and the American dream, some truck drivers from Eastern European countries claim they were sold a bill of goods after arriving in the U.S.

Drivers told FreightWaves that recruiters said they could earn more money in a month hauling cars in America than they could make in an entire year in their home countries.

The average yearly pay for a truck driver in Russia is roughly equivalent to $4,700, according to Salary Explorer. Truck drivers earn even less in Ukraine...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/foreign-truckers-allege-us-job-offers-turned-into-human-trafficking-scheme

How a freight broker foiled a cargo theft – Long-Haul Crime Log

A tractor-trailer hauling oversized tires to illustrate an article about cargo theft.

At first the freight broker thought it was a mistake. The $60,000 load of oversized tires was supposed to go from Los Angeles to Alaska. Instead, the trucker was taking them to Miami. But after reviewing his paperwork, she realized he’d been duped as an unknowing accessory to a cross-country cargo theft attempt. 

But first, she had to convince the driver. 

“It’s the first time in my life where a driver truly thought I was lying,” recalled Grace Sharkey, a former freight broker who now works as a r...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/how-a-freight-broker-foiled-a-cargo-theft-–-long-haul-crime-log

CBP reveals how cocaine corn flakes were sniffed out in Cincinnati

A graphic illustration of a box of of cocaine cereal to illustrate an article about the interception of a shipment of cocaine cornflakes.

On Feb. 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Cincinnati were checking a shipment of corn flakes from Peru when suddenly Bico, a narcotics K-9, alerted agents that something was amiss.

The corn flakes were frosted with something besides sugar – they were coated with cocaine. In all, agents would find about 44 pounds of cocaine-coated corn flakes, worth about $2.8 million. 

The cocaine corn flakes were en route to a private residence in Hong Kong when they were seized at an express...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/cbp-reveals-how-cocaine-corn-flakes-were-sniffed-out-in-cincinnati

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