Dispatcher Charged with Holding Cargo Hostage

Kentucky dispatcher Bryan Napier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his part in a scheme to defraud shippers.

Between Oct. 8, 2010 and Feb. 7, 2012, Napier and others defrauded shipping brokers by agreeing to transport cargo loads for a certain price. They would then hold the cargo and demand payment before delivery, in effect, holding the cargo hostage until their demands were met.

To avoid getting caught, Napier and his co-conspirators created new trucking companies and used false names and aliases. They also withheld information from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration when opening new trucking companies.

Napier was a dispatcher for several trucking companies operating out of Catts Auto Sales, in Chavies, Ky.

An investigation is being conducted by the FBI with assistance from the FMCSA.