Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A New York man, Romoy Forbes, was indicted for allegedly conspiring to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of cargo and selling the goods for illicit profit, according to an April 1 announcement from federal authorities. The indictment includes charges related to the theft and interstate transportation of items such as beer, frozen snow crabs, blueberries, and designer cologne.
The case is significant because it highlights a series of alleged crimes that crossed state lines and involved fraudulent schemes targeting legitimate shipping operations. Authorities say the stolen goods had a total value in excess of $790,000.
Prosecutors allege that Forbes and his co-conspirators used fraudulent emails that appeared to come from real trucking companies in order to obtain shipments advertised by shippers. For example, on July 15, 2025, Forbes allegedly acquired about $325,000 worth of frozen snow crab from a Worcester warehouse by falsely claiming he represented an Illinois-based carrier. Instead of delivering the seafood to its intended customer in Florida, he reportedly transported it to Queens, New York. Similar tactics were allegedly used in June 2025 when Forbes obtained beer valued at $35,200 from Newark intended for Maine but delivered it instead to Long Island for payment.
The indictment also details an incident involving blueberries obtained under false pretenses from Winslow Junction meant for delivery in Illinois but diverted elsewhere after text messages between Forbes and a contact referred to as “My customer for everything.” In another instance on July 25, 2025, Forbes is accused of conspiring to steal over $430,000 worth of designer cologne intended for Los Angeles customers but offered instead to his contact after sending them video evidence.
If convicted on all counts—interstate transportation of stolen goods and conspiracy—Forbes faces up to ten years in prison plus fines up to $250,000 per offense. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said the investigation benefited from cooperation with multiple law enforcement agencies including assistance from counterparts in New York. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative designed by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and organized crime through coordinated resources across various task forces.
Authorities emphasize that all allegations are accusations only; Forbes remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
