Two people suspected of defrauding multiple clothing companies through an e-commerce platform and allegedly selling the stolen property on a live-streaming shopping platform have been taken into custody, police announced Thursday.
Detectives assigned to the LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division — Cargo Theft Task Force, with assistance from the Union Pacific Railroad Police, BNSF Police, Los Angeles World Airport Police, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation, and HIS’ Cargo Theft Group personnel, executed several search warrants on Wednesday in North Hills, West Los Angeles, Sunland and Van Nuys, according to the Los Angeles Poice Department.
Police said investigators located a 25-year-old woman from North Hills and a 26-year-old man from Sunland during the search operation and took them into custody.
The male suspect was identified as Jude Bigay, and the woman, Hannah Noto.
Both suspects allegedly admitted to defrauding multiple clothing companies and selling the stolen property on Whatnot, police said.
According to police, detectives executed a search warrant at a warehouse in the 16700 block of Stagg Street in Van Nuys, discovering more than 55 pallets of stolen commercial and train cargo, which included EDIKTED, ALO, SKINS, Ariat, Milwaukee, Ninja, Dyson, Duracell, and other items valued at approximately $1 million.
Bigay and Noto were taken to the Van Nuys Jail and booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property.
Police said the arrests underscore the importance of interagency collaboration in “combating large-scale cargo theft” while preserving the integrity of the commercial business’ supply chain.