Reputed members of a major retail theft ring that pilfered meat, copper, and cigarettes from distributors throughout the northeastern U.S. found themselves in handcuffs and marched into Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said eight men, who were identified as Uzbeki immigrants, allegedly used real shipping carriers and brokers they fraudulently obtained to steal some $5 million in goods, including beef and lamb, from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. They sold the products, which were diverted to the Big Apple, for sale on the Black Market.
“We allege these defendants operated a wide-ranging and brazen, multimillion-dollar interstate retail theft conspiracy that impacted businesses and consumers around the country,” DA Bragg said during a June 3 press conference at his Lower Manhattan office. “We believe that many small businesses were harmed by this theft, some of which may not be able to recover from their financial losses. Furthermore, the intersection of sophisticated online hacking and large-scale theft is deeply concerning and will only grow more prevalent, and we are using every tool available to stay ahead of this emerging trend.”
While two of the eight are in ICE custody, three others were indicted in Manhattan court on Wednesday afternoon, including alleged ringleader Murodullo Khasnov, who is accused of escorting and supervising the transportation of the stolen goods through Manhattan into the Bronx.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.Photo by Dean Moses 
Aleksey Vorobyev.Photo by Dean Moses
According to DA Bragg, the fraudsters worked with hacking groups that used phishing scams to impersonate legitimate trucking businesses, and then placed bids in those businesses’ names.
“The owners of the goods, and the legitimate shipping companies had no idea this was occurring until after the damage was done,” Bragg added.
Prosecutors say that between October 2025 and April 2026, the crew committed six thefts, making off with $165,000 worth of lamb; $432,000 worth of cheese; $295,000 worth of beef; more than $266,000 worth of copper; and more than $3.3 million worth of cigarettes.
Aleksey Vorobyev (left) and Nodir Kobilov. Photo by Dean Moses 
Murodullo Khasnov.Photo by Dean Moses
Khasnov and reported accomplices Aleksey Vorobyev and Nodir Kobilov were escorted through the halls of the Supreme Court in handcuffs to face a judge.
The charges allege that Kobilov drove a truck impersonating the carrier Z Mile Inc to pickup frozen lamb from a logistics center in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Vorobyev allegedly helped sell some of the scrap items.
With the help of a Russian interpreter, both suspects pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday. They were granted supervised release but ordered to hand over their passports.
“These defendants allegedly ran a highly coordinated theft ring by illegally obtaining shipping information, impersonating legitimate trucking businesses, and using phishing schemes to steal millions of dollars in consumer goods – including everything from meat and cheese to copper and cigarettes,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. “Their operation exploited small businesses, disrupted supply chains, and pushed stolen goods onto the black market. Thanks to our tireless NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners, this scheme was shut down, and those responsible are being held accountable.”