A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison in connection with a major cargo theft operattion.
United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Haneef Palmer, aka “Lew,” 33, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $1,080,786.44 in restitution by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his central role in a large-scale cargo theft conspiracy.
The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to one count each of conspiracy, robbery interfering with interstate commerce, possession of items from interstate shipment theft, theft of government money, and possession of stolen government money, and five counts of theft from an interstate shipment.
As detailed in court filings and statements, between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, Palmer conspired with co-defendants to steal goods moving as parts of interstate shipments located on tractor-trailers around Philadelphia.
While a trailer was unattended overnight, or while the driver was asleep, the members of the conspiracy participating in the theft would use bolt cutters and other tools to break into the trailer and steal the goods inside. The members of the conspiracy would then offer the goods for sale to local contacts.
Among other acts, Palmer admitted to participating in the robbery of a tractor-trailer carrying commercial refrigerators on April 1, 2023, during which he and others attacked and injured the driver, and to participating in the theft of over $230,000 worth of U.S. dimes on April 13, 2023.
The members of the conspiracy committed numerous other thefts, stealing goods with a total estimated value of more than $1.5 million from more than 10 victims.
Diesel price tops $6.26
AAA today said the national average price for diesel is $6.26.94, up from $6.23 Monday.
A week ago, the national average price was $5.90 and this time last year it was $3.68.
AAA says rising crude oil prices are contributing to the increase in fuel prices. Volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil back into the $100-to-$110-per-barrel range for the first time since July.
$25 million in meth found in vegetables
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge icargo facility in Texas intercepted $25,167,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed in a shipment manifested as cabbage, tomatillo, and cilantro.
On Sept. 8, CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a tractor-trailer traveling from Reynosa, Mexico. The vehicle was referred to secondary inspection, which included a nonintrusive scan and a canine-team screening.
A physical inspection of the vehicle resulted in the extraction of 1,164 packages of alleged methamphetamine, with a combined weight of 2,815.30 lbs. concealed within the shipment.
CBP’s OFO seized the narcotics and vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents initiated a criminal investigation.
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