LANCASTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA — A 22-year-old driver was arrested on I-80 near Lincoln this week after a traffic stop for a trailer leaning heavily to one side led to the discovery of 44,000 pounds of stolen copper wire worth $250,000, multiple fake IDs, two bolt cutters, and a driver who had to be forced into the back of a patrol cruiser after attempting to resist arrest.
Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit spotted the westbound Freightliner pulling an enclosed trailer around 2:12 p.m. on October 7 near mile marker 408. The trailer was visibly leaning heavily to the passenger side. A deputy made contact with the driver, who was unable to provide registration or a bill of lading and said his company had not provided either. Deputies noted this was not consistent with standard commercial industry standards.
The driver handed over an ID that did not appear to belong to him. He was taken into custody — but attempted to free himself and had to be forced into the back of the patrol cruiser. Inside the truck, deputies found two additional IDs with different names, including one that read “No Name Given Raman Pal,” which matched the arrested driver.
In the trailer, deputies found 11 pallets of copper wire with no seal or lock on the cargo doors, no tie-downs securing the pallets, and the load shifted heavily to one side — again inconsistent with normal commercial loads. Two bolt cutters were also found. A bill of lading was eventually located inside the truck showing the load had been picked up from Imperial Metal Group in Chicago and was supposed to be delivered to Lakeside Auto Recyclers in Carter Lake, Iowa.
Deputies contacted the recycler, who confirmed the load had not arrived and was off route. They then contacted Imperial Metal Group, who confirmed the cargo was stolen and was not in the possession of the correct carrier. An IMG spokesperson said it was the fourth load of precious metals stolen from the company in the same fashion this year, and that the 11 pallets were valued at $250,000.
Raman Pal, 22, was charged with criminal impersonation and theft by unlawful taking of over $5,000. His bond is set at 10% of $500,000. His next court date is scheduled for November 12.
LCSO called it an unusually significant stop. “This is the first one we’ve ever had like this. It was a very good stop. The company has had four loads stolen for over a million dollars just this year.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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