What looked like a simple Facebook Marketplace trailer purchase quickly turned into something much bigger.

Back on December 10, 2025, New York State Police received a report from a purchaser who had recently bought a dump trailer and began suspecting the trailer may have been stolen. The buyer reportedly purchased the trailer on November 24, 2025, from a male at 284 Johnson Road in the Town of Schuyler.

The trailer had reportedly been registered as a homemade trailer and displayed no visible vehicle identification number.

According to investigators, the purchaser later located old registration paperwork hidden inside the trailer, which contained the original VIN. That discovery allowed investigators to confirm the trailer was actually a 2021 CAM Superline dump trailer reported stolen out of Gill, Massachusetts.

The trailer was recovered and returned to its rightful owner.

As the investigation expanded, State Police — working alongside investigators with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles — allegedly discovered a troubling pattern.

Investigators say multiple homemade trailer registrations had been processed through the Herkimer County DMV using the same certified weight slip. In total, investigators identified 26 registrations involving four individuals.

On April 22, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at the Schuyler property connected to the original sale. During the search, authorities seized another dump trailer — a silver Mission manufactured trailer with no visible VIN that had also allegedly been registered as homemade.

No additional stolen property was located during the search.

The investigation has since resulted in multiple arrests and felony charges.


Those Charged

David Lashchuk, 21, of Utica

was charged with:

  • 42 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree
  • 9 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree
  • Removing a Vehicle Identification Number
  • Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree

He was arraigned in the Town of German Flatts Court and was scheduled to appear in Village of Herkimer Court on May 26, 2026.


Bogdan Lashchuk, 28, of New Hartford
was charged with:

  • 6 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree

He was issued an appearance ticket for June 9, 2026.


Yuriy Lashchuk, 34, of Frankfort

was charged with:

  • 6 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree
  • Removing a Vehicle Identification Number
  • Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree

He is scheduled to appear in both Town of Schuyler Court and Village of Herkimer Court.


Nikolay Lashchuk, 58, of Utica
was charged with:

  • 3 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree

He is also scheduled for June 9, 2026, court proceedings.

This case raises bigger questions for the community.

How does a stolen trailer allegedly move through registration channels unnoticed? Were safeguards missed? Could additional registrations still face review?

Those are questions many across Herkimer County may now be asking.

The Hillbilly Media will continue following this case as it moves through the court system.

Anyone with verified information can contact The Hillbilly Media. Please avoid posting threats, personal information, or unverified accusations in comments.

CRIME / ARREST DISCLAIMER All suspects are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The Hillbilly Media reports information based on police statements, public records, and verified official sources available at the time of publication. Charges may later be reduced, modified, or dismissed. Please keep comments respectful and avoid posting threats, personal information, or unverified accusations.