Crack in the case: 280,000 eggs vanish from top US producer — then a bizarre ransom note shocks investigators

Time of India

5 hours ago

The Great Egg Heist: How 280,000 Eggs Vanished in a $100,000 Scam-
A bizarre egg theft has stunned authorities, leaving one big question: how did 280,000 eggs—worth nearly $100,000—disappear from a Maryland farm without a trace? What began as a routine delivery ended with a criminal mystery, potential corporate controversy, and the involvement of America's largest egg producer—Cal-Maine Foods.
How did 280,000 eggs just vanish from a Cal-Maine farm?
On April 11, 2025, a truck rolled into Warwick, Maryland, to pick up 280,000 large and extra-large brown eggs from a Cal-Maine farm. The shipment was headed to Florida. Everything seemed normal—until it wasn't.
Five days later, the eggs never arrived. When the Florida-based freight broker contacted the farm to confirm delivery, they were met with silence and confusion. The shipping documents were legitimate, but something didn't add up. The trucker listed on the paperwork wasn't the one who picked up the eggs.
That's when the real drama began.
In April 2025, a routine shipment of brown eggs was scheduled to be delivered from Maryland to Florida by a freight broker contracted with Cal-Maine Foods. But instead of arriving at its final destination, the shipment was rerouted to Staten Island, where it vanished without a trace.
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The shipment, which included 18 pallets of large and extra-large brown eggs, never reached the intended buyer.
Who is behind the egg heist?
According to law enforcement and industry insiders, the scam was part of an elaborate
freight fraud operation
. Here's how it unfolded:
A con artist using the name "Bernardo" posed as a legitimate freight broker on a trucking platform.
He hijacked the identity of a
real trucking company
to appear credible.
The driver assigned to pick up the load had no idea he was delivering the shipment to the wrong location.
Once the eggs were delivered to an unknown facility in Staten Island, the fraudster sent a
bizarre ransom note
demanding
$7,500
through
Zelle
or
wire transfer
for the 'safe return' of the stolen eggs.
Investigators believe the trucker was
duped
, not complicit, and authorities are still searching for the real 'Bernardo,' who remains at large.
What is Cal-Maine saying about the theft?
Cal-Maine has confirmed the disappearance of the egg shipment and is cooperating with federal authorities. However, the company is already facing scrutiny from the
U.S. Department of Justice
, which is investigating potential
anti-competitive practices
and pricing manipulation.
Lawmakers are now weighing legislation that could
cut federal subsidies
to large egg producers like Cal-Maine if they are found to engage in market exploitation.
Who is Cal-Maine foods and why does this matter?
Cal-Maine Foods is the nation's largest egg supplier, producing more than 13 billion eggs each year. They supply to major retailers including Walmart, Costco, and various house brands like Eggland's Best and Land O'Lakes. Roughly one in five eggs sold in the U.S. comes from Cal-Maine.
The stolen eggs were part of their recent $110 million expansion in Maryland, where they acquired 4,000 acres and 4.7 million hens from ISE America in 2024. Despite this, Cal-Maine remained quiet after the theft—refusing interviews and offering no public statement.
Could this be linked to soaring egg prices and public outrage?
In recent years, egg prices have surged due to outbreaks of bird flu and tight supply. At one point, federal agents were seizing eggs more often than drugs at the U.S. border. In March 2023, consumers were paying over $6–$10 per dozen. Meanwhile, Cal-Maine—who didn't lose any hens to bird flu—reported quarterly profits 169 times higher than the year before.
Farmers and lawmakers have accused the company of price gouging. Angela Huffman, co-founder of Farm Action, even sent a formal complaint to the FTC and DOJ, asking them to investigate. By April 2025, the Justice Department confirmed it had launched an antitrust investigation into Cal-Maine and other major egg producers.
Three days after Cal-Maine posted record profits and executives sold off millions in shares—280,000 eggs vanished.
Was the egg heist an inside job or organized scam?
Detective William Muller of Cecil County Sheriff's Office took over the case. Working with the freight broker, Minh Dang, investigators learned that the eggs had been picked up by someone posing as a legitimate trucker. The job had been posted on DAT, a major freight matching site.
The thief, calling himself 'Bernardo,' passed all standard security checks. But the truck wash receipt pointed to a different name. Dang's calls were ignored—until one reply came in: 'You need to zelle or wire $7,500 if you want your eggs.'
Detectives now suspect a freight fraud operation where criminals impersonate truckers to steal valuable goods. It's a growing trend in the logistics industry. But eggs—fragile and time-sensitive—were never a common target until prices exploded.
What happened to the eggs after staten island?
The hired trucker, who had no idea he was involved in a scam, followed orders and delivered the cargo—not to Florida, but to a random parking lot in Staten Island. There, a temporary loading dock was set up. He fell asleep in his cab and woke up to find the eggs—and the people—gone.
Authorities believe the eggs were offloaded and likely sold to small grocery stores and bodegas in New York City. A local bagel shop owner joked he would've welcomed cheap eggs but was never approached. The investigation hit a dead end, with the scammer—still known only as 'Bernardo'—remaining at large.
Why is cargo theft on the rise in 2025?
The egg heist highlights a growing trend in organized cargo theft, especially of high-value consumer staples. Industry reports show a 35% increase in food and beverage cargo thefts in the U.S. since 2023.
The reason? Surging food prices, labor shortages, and weak digital security in logistics systems have created the perfect storm.
Eggs, in particular, have become a hot commodity. Prices soared in early 2025 after a severe avian flu outbreak, pushing wholesale egg prices up by nearly 28% year-over-year. Cal-Maine, which controls roughly 20% of the U.S. egg market, has come under fire for alleged price-gouging.
Is this just the beginning of more food cargo thefts?
Experts say freight fraud, especially involving perishable goods, is on the rise. The sharp increase in egg value made them a black-market commodity. Organized crime rings have adapted quickly, using phishing, stolen identities, and insider information to intercept shipments.
In the case of Cal-Maine's heist, all signs point to a well-planned operation. The motive? It could've been financial, or even symbolic—a rebellious strike against what some see as corporate greed.
Detective Muller believes price pressure, public frustration, and poor oversight created the perfect storm for a crime like this.
What's next for cal-maine, the justice department, and America's egg supply?
The egg market remains under scrutiny. Average carton prices are still
69% higher
than a year ago, though they've dropped sharply since news of the DOJ investigation surfaced. A new bill introduced in Congress seeks to block federal relief funds from going to large egg corporations with record profits.
Cal-Maine, for its part, denies all wrongdoing and says it's simply a 'price taker' in a complex supply chain.
Angela Huffman, now back on her Ohio farm, says she's still watching the story unfold closely. 'It's about more than eggs,' she says. 'It's about fairness.'
As for the Maryland farm, workers are beefing up their security—just in case the bunny, or someone much worse, tries again.
FAQs:
Q1: What is the Great Egg Heist involving Cal-Maine Foods?
A: It's the theft of 280,000 eggs worth $100,000 from a Maryland farm through a freight scam.
Q2: Why is Cal-Maine under investigation by the DOJ?
A: The DOJ is investigating Cal-Maine for alleged price gouging and antitrust violations in the egg market.