The FBI revealed that two Amazon drivers were reportedly involved in a $10 million theft ring that moved stolen goods from the website for almost six years.
Complex News reports the drivers were reportedly a part a larger ring of shoplifters and thieves who brought their stolen goods to two Washington pawn shops in Kent and Renton. The goods were purchased by the shops and shipped to Amazon warehouses, where they could be bought by Amazon users. In an affidavit, FBI agent Ariana Kroshinsky said the shops successfully sold stolen property that was worth millions.
One of the Amazon drivers stole $30,000 worth of material in less than six months. The investigation was initiated after frequent activity was noticed in the pawn shop’s ledgers. Two drivers were charged with moving Amazon packages from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport to Amazon’s nearby warehouse and offices in that area, Complex reports. However, Kroshinsky says the two men stole the packages and sold them to the two shops.
A third driver, Abbas Zghair, is said to have stolen more than $100,000 worth of Amazon shipments, according to company officials who spoke with the FBI.
By the end of it all, over $48,000 items were stolen over six years. The head of the operation was identified as Aleksandr Pavlovskiy, who had his home raided, as well as the two pawn shops. So far no charges have been filed.
