ALBANY COUNTY, WYOMING — A commercial truck driver accused of stealing a 2021 red Freightliner and refrigerated trailer in California told Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers he was “helping a friend” get cargo to Chicago, even though he was driving westbound on Interstate 80 and away from that destination, according to court records.
Amninder Singh, born in 2002, has been charged with felony theft in Albany County. Investigators allege he took the truck and trailer from his former employer, a transport company in the Fresno, California, area. The combined value of the truck and trailer was listed at about $80,000 in an affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Ty Beidleman.
Singh made his first court appearance Thursday, and a preliminary hearing was set for April 29.
GPS Alert Led Troopers to the Truck
According to the affidavit, the owner of the truck had a GPS tracking device installed and contacted the Wyoming Highway Patrol late Tuesday night after seeing the vehicle traveling west on I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie.
A trooper then spotted a semitrailer matching the description and license plates and conducted a traffic stop.
Driver’s Story Changed During Stop
The affidavit says Singh initially told the trooper he had the truck and trailer because he was “helping a friend” and was headed to Chicago, Illinois, from Salinas, California.
Troopers noted that Singh was traveling in the opposite direction from Chicago.
When asked about that, Singh reportedly said he needed to print documents and was heading to the Maverik in Laramie because there was no printer at the Flying J in Cheyenne.
The affidavit states that a call to the Flying J confirmed there was no printer available for truckers there. However, the Love’s Travel Stop on the other side of Interstate 25, within sight of the Flying J, did have one.
Troopers asked Singh multiple times why he had driven about 50 miles in the wrong direction just to print paperwork, which would have added roughly 100 unnecessary miles to the trip if he planned to turn around and continue east to Chicago.
According to the affidavit, Singh repeated that he needed to print paper and avoided directly answering the question.
Troopers Used Translator During Investigation
Investigators said they spoke with Singh through a translator and that he changed his story multiple times during questioning.
The affidavit states Singh avoided answering questions to the point that the translator became frustrated.
Troopers said Singh eventually told them he was transporting cargo for a friend from California to Chicago because that friend’s truck had broken down.
According to the affidavit, Singh admitted he was using the company truck and trailer without permission and acknowledged that he did not have authorization to take them.
Investigators also said Singh told them the company owner had called him and said police had been contacted and the vehicle had been reported stolen.
The affidavit says Singh ultimately admitted that the owner’s call — not the need to print documents — was the reason he turned around and began heading back west.
Felony Charge Filed
If convicted of felony theft, Singh could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
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