Maksims Klopovs, Theft from an Interstate Cargo Shipment, Texas 2019

Houston Man Admits to $100,000 Electronics Heist

A 22-year-old Houston man has entered a guilty plea to theft from an interstate cargo shipment, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Maksims Klopovs, 22, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to the charge of theft from an interstate cargo shipment, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

According to court documents, on June 17, 2019, authorities suspected a shipment of approximately $100,000 worth of computers and other electronics might be stolen. The shipment was originally set for delivery to Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas.

However, after the shipment left the warehouse in Illinois, someone had changed the delivery instructions using an online system. Rather than deliver it directly to Del Mar College, the shipping company was asked to hold the load at their Corpus Christi warehouse for pickup. Del Mar College did not request the change.

Maksims Klopovs, who presented a fraudulent Texas driver’s license bearing his photo, but with the name Martin Smith, arrived at the warehouse driving a rented U-Haul truck. He also showed what was determined to be a fraudulent Del Mar College ID card with the title of Operations Manager also bearing his photograph and with the Smith name. He also had a Del Mar College business card in the name of Martin Smith.

Klopovs claimed the shipment and began to load the electronics into the rental truck. Authorities then took him into custody.

Klopovs has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which will be April 6. At that time, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentence.

The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/houston-man-admits-hijacking-interstate-freight-shipment