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A Long Island man is embroiled in a federal investigation following a brazen series of cargo thefts that netted him an astonishing haul, including nearly 34,000 pounds of frozen snow crab and a truckload of designer cologne, amounting to over $750,000. Romoy Forbes, 31, stands accused of employing hacked email accounts to impersonate legitimate trucking companies, diverting deliveries intended for unsuspecting customers into the black market.
A Grimy Operation Unfolds
According to an unsealed affidavit from the FBI, Forbes used a web of deceit to orchestrate these thefts. Rather than fulfilling the legitimate deliveries, he and his unidentified cohorts sold the stolen goods for profit. While Forbes’s ventures into seafood and fragrance proved lucrative, his attempt to steal a load of blueberries landed him with a mere $4,000—far less than his other exploits. A buyer in New Jersey even expressed his disinterest in fruit, stating bluntly, “I don’t really sell produce,” underscoring the risks of Forbes’s ill-advised foray into the fruit trade.
The audacity of Forbes’s scheme reached a new low when a warehouse employee, frustrated by the lack of delivery, contacted one of Forbes’s accomplices disguised as a dispatcher. When pressed for answers, the faux dispatcher responded dismissively, saying, “F**k the police,” before abruptly ending the call. This attitude reflects a dangerous confidence in their criminal operations.
The Mechanics of the Heist
Forbes, a Jamaican national, was apprehended on Thursday, February 5, 2026, as the authorities closed in on his illicit activities. The investigation began after a report from a Worcester, Massachusetts warehouse where 33,750 pounds of snow crab worth $325,000 went missing on July 15, 2025. The affidavit details how the logistics of the theft unfolded: the warehouse had posted a job online for carriers, and Forbes exploited a hacked email to secure the fraudulent contract.
On July 14, 2025, he arrived at the warehouse in a red tractor-trailer, presented legitimate identification, and drove off with the valuable cargo. When the warehouse staff later discovered the GPS tracker was malfunctioning, they attempted to reach the trucking firm, only to learn that their email system had been compromised, and the shipment had never been booked legitimately.
A Pattern of Deception
Forbes’s criminal exploits didn’t stop at seafood. A month prior, he had successfully stolen a shipment of blueberries, again using a hacked email to pose as a driver. On June 26, 2025, he loaded the fruit onto his truck in Winslow Junction, New Jersey, and vanished, further entrenching his reputation as a resourceful yet reckless thief. The FBI’s investigation was bolstered by text messages that revealed Forbes’s dealings with various buyers, confirming his pattern of deception.
The sheer scale of Forbes’s ambitions continued with a theft on July 25, where he pilfered approximately $433,830 worth of cologne intended for a client in Los Angeles. Once more, he utilised a hacked email to secure the job, only to fail to deliver the goods. When the supplier reached out to the supposed trucking company, they too were informed of an email breach, signalling that Forbes’s operation was riddled with the same vulnerabilities he had exploited.
Facing the Consequences
Forbes is now charged with one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods, which carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison, alongside a conspiracy charge that could add another five years. The scale of his thefts highlights a growing concern within the transportation industry, where cargo theft is increasingly seen as a significant threat. Experts warn that these crimes not only impact businesses but ultimately drive up costs for consumers as the losses are absorbed into the market.
Why it Matters
The case against Romoy Forbes reveals a troubling trend in cargo theft, underscoring the vulnerabilities within the logistics and transportation sectors. As criminals like Forbes continue to exploit technology and weaknesses in security protocols, the consequences ripple through the economy, affecting both businesses and consumers alike. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced security measures and vigilance in an era where cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated in their tactics.
