BUSINESSMAN CONVICTED OF STEALING ROLLS ROYCE FROM CUSTOMS WAREHOUSE
Owner of trucking company stole car from Customs warehouse at Port of Seattle
ERIC RANGELOFF, 47, of Seattle, Washington, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle of one count of Removing Goods from Customs Custody. The jury deliberated for a day and a half, following a six day trial. When sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on November 14, 2008, RANGELOFF faces up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to Court records and trial testimony, RANGELOFF owns several businesses that operate out of the Port of Seattle, namely Western Cartage, Seattle Bulk Rail, and Seattle Transload. These businesses are involved in the transport of goods, including imported and exported goods.
The jury convicted RANGELOFF of removing a 1983 Rolls Royce Silver Sedan from a locked cage in a Customs warehouse at the Port of Seattle. According to trial testimony, the owner bought the Rolls Royce from the Saudi Royal family, and the car had been customized for use by a Saudi princess. United States Customs had refused to allow the owner to import the car into the United States because it did not meet U.S. safety and emission standards. The owner planned to leave the car in Customs’ custody until the car qualified as an antique and was no longer subject to those standards.
The Government contended that, at some point in 2004, RANGELOFF broke into the Customs warehouse and used a forklift to steal the Rolls Royce and then hid the car at his business, which was adjacent to the Customs warehouse. RANGELOFF had the car at his business for several weeks. On December 10, 2004, RANGELOFF attempted to sell the car to a third party. A Port of Seattle maintenance worker saw the car being loaded onto the buyer’s trailer and recognized it as the missing Rolls Royce. The maintenance worker called the Port of Seattle Police Department, which seized the vehicle. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) later assumed jurisdiction over the case.
RANGELOFF was also charged with smuggling and making a false statement to an ICE agent. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the smuggling charge and acquitted RANGELOFF of the false statement charge.
The case was investigated by ICE and the Port of Seattle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew H. Thomas and Michael Dion.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
